TY - JOUR
T1 - A Democratic Theory of Life
T2 - Living Democracy with Black Lives Matter
AU - Asenbaum, Hans
AU - Chenault, Reece
AU - Harris, Christopher
AU - Hassan, Akram
AU - Hierro, Curtis
AU - Houldsworth , Stephen
AU - Mack, Brandon
AU - Martin, Shauntrice
AU - Newsome, Chivona
AU - Reed, Kayla
AU - Rice, Tony
AU - Torres, Shevone
AU - Wilson II, Terry J.
PY - 2023/9/1
Y1 - 2023/9/1
N2 - In response to its current crisis, scholars call for the revitalisation of democracy through democratic innovations. While they make ample use of life metaphors describing democracy as a living organism, no comprehensive understanding of ‘life’ has been established within democratic theory. The Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement articulates the urgency of refocusing on life and its meaning through radical democratic practice. This article employs a grounded theory approach, enriched with participatory methods, to develop a radical democratic concept of life in conversation with BLM. It conceptualises life as the existence of a perspective that constantly transforms through its fundamental interconnectedness. Building on this concept, the article outlines four principles of a living democracy that go beyond the revitalisation discourse. A living democracy (1) safeguards the existence of all humans and nonhumans, (2) nurtures a diversity of perspectives, (3) fosters social and planetary connectivity, and (4) enables self- and collective transformation.
AB - In response to its current crisis, scholars call for the revitalisation of democracy through democratic innovations. While they make ample use of life metaphors describing democracy as a living organism, no comprehensive understanding of ‘life’ has been established within democratic theory. The Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement articulates the urgency of refocusing on life and its meaning through radical democratic practice. This article employs a grounded theory approach, enriched with participatory methods, to develop a radical democratic concept of life in conversation with BLM. It conceptualises life as the existence of a perspective that constantly transforms through its fundamental interconnectedness. Building on this concept, the article outlines four principles of a living democracy that go beyond the revitalisation discourse. A living democracy (1) safeguards the existence of all humans and nonhumans, (2) nurtures a diversity of perspectives, (3) fosters social and planetary connectivity, and (4) enables self- and collective transformation.
KW - Black Lives Matter
KW - democratic innovations
KW - democratic theory
KW - grounded theory
KW - life
KW - participatory methods
U2 - 10.3167/th.2023.7017601
DO - 10.3167/th.2023.7017601
M3 - Article
SN - 0040-5817
VL - 70
SP - 1
EP - 33
JO - Theoria: a journal of social and political theory
JF - Theoria: a journal of social and political theory
IS - 176
ER -