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Claims of Misrepresentation: A Comparison of Germany and Brazil

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  • Petra Guasti

    (Research Unit Democratic Innovations, Goethe University Frankfurt, Germany)

  • Debora Rezende de Almeida

    (Political Science Institute, University of Brasília, Brazil)

Abstract

The system of representative democracy is under considerable strain. Its institutions are struggling to maintain legitimacy, and its elected representatives are failing to keep their monopoly on (formal) political representation. An emerging multitude of (new) claim makers contests the authority of elected representatives as well as the functioning of the existing system of representative democracy by alleging misrepresentation. In this article, we identify a significant shortcoming in Saward’s claims-making approach; specifically, we argue that it offers little direction in addressing misrepresentation. We distinguish between claims of representation and claims of misrepresentation, and show how the latter can fulfill one, two or all three of the following functions: (1) they appeal to an enemy/antagonist (strategy), (2) identify causes of misrepresentation related to policies, politics, and polity (persuasion), and (3) claim to create a new linkage to “the people”, sometimes present themselves as new representatives (reframing). To test this proposed framework, we compare claims of misrepresentation in Brazil made by civil society groups (before and during the presidential impeachment between 2014 and 2016) and in Germany (focusing on the parliamentarians of the Alternative for Germany during the first six months of mandate). Our results suggest that claims of misrepresentation are not intrinsically democratic or undemocratic, but are instead ambiguous, have different manifestations and disparate impacts on the representative system. Our article contributes to the conceptual development of the claims approach and to further understanding several critical and current challenges to representative democracy.

Suggested Citation

  • Petra Guasti & Debora Rezende de Almeida, 2019. "Claims of Misrepresentation: A Comparison of Germany and Brazil," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 7(3), pages 152-164.
    • Handle: RePEc:cog:poango:v:7:y:2019:i:3:p:152-164
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    Cited by:

    1. Stéphanie Tawa Lama-Rewal, 2019. "Political Representation in the Discourse and Practices of the “Party of the Common Man” in India," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 7(3), pages 179-188.
    2. Petra Guasti & Brigitte Geissel, 2019. "Rethinking Representation: Representative Claims in Global Perspective," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 7(3), pages 93-97.
    3. Petra Guasti & Brigitte Geissel, 2019. "Saward’s Concept of the Representative Claim Revisited: An Empirical Perspective," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 7(3), pages 98-111.

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