Defending Democracy

Abstract

Abstract This concluding chapter defends democracy against a number of criticisms from the “realist” camp. Against the view that voters are nothing but incompetent “fans,” and that the capture of political processes by private interests is inevitable, it argues that by taking a more socially embedded, institutional view of democratic life, we can see in what ways voters’ ability to hold politicians to account could be strengthened. It also argues that strengthening the epistemic infrastructure of democracy and reducing socioeconomic equality, as defended in earlier chapters, are in fact crucial strategies for reducing the risks of capture and government failure. Finally, the chapter defends a view of democracy as an experiment, in which the realization of democratic principles in practices and institutions is an ongoing task.