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The Limits of Consensual Decision

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  • Rae, Douglas W.

Abstract

This essay criticizes the ideal of consensual decision as it appears in liberal political theory. A historical survey begins with Locke's view of consent, its criticism and extension by 19th century figures such as Godwin, Calhoun, and Mill, its reappearance in the guise of economic efficiency within the works of Wicksell or Buchanan and Tullock and as moral autonomy in Wolff's Defense of Anarchy. The paper offers a structural account of political decision making in which vulnerability to the authority of others seems inescapable and in which neither unanimity nor a universal right of consent is possible. On this telling, consensual decision is logically unattainable and misdirects constitutional theory.

Suggested Citation

  • Rae, Douglas W., 1975. "The Limits of Consensual Decision," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 69(4), pages 1270-1294, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:cup:apsrev:v:69:y:1975:i:04:p:1270-1294_24
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    Cited by:

    1. Linda McCarthy, 2009. "Off the Mark?," Economic Development Quarterly, , vol. 23(3), pages 211-228, August.
    2. A. J. McGann, 2004. "The Tyranny of the Supermajority," Journal of Theoretical Politics, , vol. 16(1), pages 53-77, January.
    3. Richard Cebula & Milton Kafoglis, 1983. "In search of optimum ‘relative unanimity’," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 40(2), pages 195-201, January.
    4. Kenneth Koford, 1982. "Optimal voting rules under uncertainty," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 38(2), pages 149-165, January.
    5. Richard Cebula & Milton Kafoglis, 1987. "In search of optimum ‘relative unanimity’: Reply," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 54(3), pages 289-290, August.
    6. Josep M. Colomer, 1999. "On the Geometry of Unanimity Rule," Journal of Theoretical Politics, , vol. 11(4), pages 543-553, October.
    7. Hélène Landemore & Scott E. Page, 2015. "Deliberation and disagreement," Politics, Philosophy & Economics, , vol. 14(3), pages 229-254, August.
    8. Michael Brooks, 1987. "In search of optimum ‘relative unanimity’: A comment," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 54(3), pages 283-288, August.
    9. Dalibor Roháč, 2008. "The unanimity rule and religious fractionalisation in the Polish-Lithuanian Republic," Constitutional Political Economy, Springer, vol. 19(2), pages 111-128, June.
    10. Karol Sołltan, 1988. "Democracy, dictatorship and decision costs," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 57(2), pages 155-173, May.
    11. Saam, Nicole J. & Sumpter, David, 2008. "EU institutional reforms: How do member states reach a decision," Journal of Policy Modeling, Elsevier, vol. 30(1), pages 71-86.
    12. Jeroen Van Der Heijden, 2010. "A short history of studying incremental institutional change: Does Explaining Institutional Change provide any new explanations?," Regulation & Governance, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 4(2), pages 230-243, June.
    13. Peter Leeson, 2009. "The calculus of piratical consent: the myth of the myth of social contract," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 139(3), pages 443-459, June.
    14. Phillip W. Magness & Art Carden & Vincent Geloso, 2019. "James M. Buchanan and the Political Economy of Desegregation," Southern Economic Journal, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 85(3), pages 715-741, January.
    15. John Meadowcroft, 2014. "Exchange, unanimity and consent: a defence of the public choice account of power," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 158(1), pages 85-100, January.

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