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Democratic Theory and Political Science: A Pragmatic Method of Constructive Engagement

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  • FUNG, ARCHON

Abstract

This article develops two conceptual tools to synthesize democratic theory and the empirical study of institutions. The first is a standard to assess conceptions of democracy called pragmatic equilibrium. A conception of democracy is in pragmatic equilibrium just in case the consequences of its institutional prescriptions realize its values well and better than any other feasible institutional arrangements across a wide range of problems and contexts. Pragmatic equilibrium is a kind of Rawlsian reflective equilibrium. The second is a method of practical reasoning about the consequences of alternative institutional choices that brings conceptions of democracy closer to pragmatic equilibrium. These two ideas are then applied to four conceptions of democracy—minimal, aggregative, deliberative, and participatory—and to two governance problems—deciding rules of political structure and minority tyranny—to show how each conception can improve through reflection on the empirical consequences of various institutional arrangements.

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  • Fung, Archon, 2007. "Democratic Theory and Political Science: A Pragmatic Method of Constructive Engagement," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 101(3), pages 443-458, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:cup:apsrev:v:101:y:2007:i:03:p:443-458_07
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    Cited by:

    1. Daemen Josette, 2021. "What (If Anything) Can Justify Basic Income Experiments? Balancing Costs and Benefits in Terms of Justice," Basic Income Studies, De Gruyter, vol. 16(1), pages 11-25, June.
    2. Kelly Gerard, 2021. "Interpreting Legitimation Through Participation: The ASEAN Civil Society Conference," Journal of Common Market Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 59(2), pages 432-445, March.
    3. Murat Arsel & Malcolm Langford, 2015. "Forum 2015," Development and Change, International Institute of Social Studies, vol. 46(4), pages 777-802, July.
    4. Konow, James, 2008. "The Moral High Ground: An Experimental Study of Spectator Impartiality," MPRA Paper 18558, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    5. Kelly Gerard & David Mickler, 2021. "Remaking the Regional: Legitimacy and Political Participation in Regional Integration," Journal of Common Market Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 59(2), pages 404-416, March.
    6. Laura Carmouze & Alan Sandry, 2020. "Complex Thinking and Computing Organization Facing Contingent Problems," Public Organization Review, Springer, vol. 20(2), pages 401-419, June.
    7. Whetsell, Travis A, 2023. "On the Theory of the Pragmatic Public," SocArXiv 8ukmr, Center for Open Science.
    8. Sanjeev Vidyarthi & Charles Hoch, 2018. "Learning from groundwater: Pragmatic compromise planning common goods," Environment and Planning C, , vol. 36(4), pages 629-648, June.

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