Deliberative Democracy: A Critique

Abstract

This article analyzes from an institutional perspective the difficulties present in the deliberative theory of democracy. Although a significant number of philosophers and political theorists have argued in favor of the deliberative conception of democracy, I argue that its translation into concrete institutional mechanisms makes it a regulative ideal rather than a real possibility of precise institutional arrangements. In particular, I note that the theory is not prepared to resolve the indeterminacy of the specific deliberation arenas; the trend towards a corporatist participation and, finally, to specify the precise institutional arrangements that could encourage deliberation. Therefore, deliberative democracy should be considered not an “instruction manual” but as an ideal type.