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Bridging the Gap Between Theory and Practice

Democratic Theory through an Agonistic Lens

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2026

Marie Paxton
Marie Paxton*
Affiliation:
Westminster College, Salt Lake City
*
E-mail: mstaniforth@westminstercollege.edu
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Abstract

This article seeks to explore democratic theory by focusing on the example of agonistic democracy, in which contest between citizens is valued for its potential to render politics more inclusive, more engaging, and more virtuous. Using Connolly and Tully's inclusivism, Chantal Mouffe's adversarialism, and David Owen's perfectionism, the article discusses democratic theory as a critique, a series of normative proposals, and a potential bridge between political theory and public policy. It is this bridge that enables democratic theory to pull together critical and normative discussions with those surrounding public policy and institutional design.

Keywords

agonistic democracydemocratic theorynew institutionalismpolitical theorypublic policy

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Type
Articles
Information
Democratic Theory , Volume 6 , Issue 2 , December 2019 , pp. 85 - 95
Copyright
Copyright © Berghahn Books 2019

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