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Republicanism and the political economy of democracy.

Authors :
Casassas, David
De Wispelaere, Jurgen
Source :
European Journal of Social Theory. May2016, Vol. 19 Issue 2, p283-300. 18p.
Publication Year :
2016

Abstract

Europe is experiencing rapidly accelerating poverty and social exclusion, following half a decade of financial crisis and austerity politics. The key problem behind Europe's malaise, in our view, is the economic disenfranchisement of large parts of its population in the winner-takes-all-society. This article proposes that we examine the contribution of republican political theory as a distinctive approach that provides us with the conceptual and normative resources to reclaim what we call the political economy of democracy, the constellation of political and economic institutions aimed at promoting broad economic sovereignty and individuals’ capacities to govern their own lives. This article identifies three key ideas that together constitute a distinctively republican approach to political economy: (1) establish an economic floor; (2) impose an economic ceiling to counter excess economic inequality; and (3) democratize the governance and regulation of the main economic institutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
13684310
Volume :
19
Issue :
2
Database :
Academic Search Index
Journal :
European Journal of Social Theory
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
114528621
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1177/1368431015600026