Topic 2 – What is democracy?

Section overview

This section explores the evolving concept of democracy, addressing its origins, theoretical foundations, and the dissonance between its ideals and practical applications. Central to this inquiry is the notion of “political agoraphobia”—the apprehension that democratic power can destabilize hegemonic structures and empower  marginalized  groups,  threatening  the  authority  of  elite  institutions (Dupuis-Déri, 2011). The text examines how democracy’s ideals, often rooted in egalitarianism and direct governance by the people, are paradoxically perceived as a risk to stability in Western liberal democracies. This is evidenced in critiques by  influential  figures  such  as  Michel  Crozier,  Samuel  Huntington,  and  Joji Watanuki, who argued that an “excess of democracy” can disrupt governance and advised moderation to maintain political control (Crozier et al., 1975).