Liberal democracy’s liberal-democratic tension is a paradox, not a fatal contradiction

Evidence

In Chapter 4, I propose to ‘rcdescribe’ (to put it in a Rortyan way) liberal democracy in terms of ‘agonistic pluralism’. This, I argue, is the best way to acknowledge the tension between its constitutive elements and to harness it in a productive way. I therefore disagree with those who declare that accepting the impossibility of reconciling the two traditions commits us to endorse Carl Schmitt’s trenchant verdict about liberal democ· racy. namely. his thesis that this is a non·viable regime. given that liberalism negates democracy and that democracy negates liberalism. While I consider that Schmitt’s critique provides important insights and that it should be taken seriously. my position. developed in Chapter 2. is that this ultimate irreconcil· ability need not be visualized on the mode of a contradiction but as the locus of a paradox. — Chantal Mouffe, The Democratic Paradox, 53

Categorization

• DEFINE: Defines agonistic pluralism and contrasts the paradox frame with Schmitt’s contradiction frame - central to the reader’s theoretical test.
• XREF: connects to: Democracy and liberalism can be decoupled and even opposed — Philip Mirowski, Never Let a Serious Crisis Go to Waste, 235; Pluralist democracy means negotiating, not eliminating, its constitutive paradox — Chantal Mouffe, The Democratic Paradox, 60; Liberal democracy contains a paradox Schmitt’s critique exposes — Chantal Mouffe, The Democratic Paradox, 162 (+5 more)

Broader Connections

• The tension between liberal rights and democratic sovereignty is ineradicable yet negotiable, not fatal #corroborates (0.95) — Chantal Mouffe, The Democratic Paradox, 426
• Pluralist democracy means negotiating, not eliminating, its constitutive paradox #corroborates (0.88) — Chantal Mouffe, The Democratic Paradox, 60
• Liberal democracy’s secular theory rests on two mutually contradictory myths #complicates (0.80) — Talal Asad, Formations of the Secular, 300
• Liberal democracy rests on two contradictory secular myths in tension with each other. #complicates (0.80)
• Democracy and liberalism can be decoupled and even opposed #complicates (0.78) — Philip Mirowski, Never Let a Serious Crisis Go to Waste, 235
• Liberal democracy contains a paradox Schmitt’s critique exposes #expands (0.76) — Chantal Mouffe, The Democratic Paradox, 162
• Liberal democratic ideology internally generates the contradictions that let alternatives through #complicates (0.75)