The international plan to increase democracy has seemingly been the introduction of direct democratic items, such as referendums and initiatives, especially in cases of contentious policies or fundamental political changes. However, direct democratic components can be dangerous to democracy in all but a few cases.
Category: Political Theory
Our thoughts on the theories that have shaped past and present politics
Should Corporations Care about Us?
Corporations often boast new initiatives to reduce their pollution, plastic use, reliance on non-renewable energy, or whatever else is topical in the public discourse. These corporations try to sell these initiatives to the public as corporate social responsibility—companies taking it upon themselves to help their communities and society as a whole. However, the primary motive behind these actions is likely financial. Shifts in regulations and consumer behavior have made it easier for corporations to benefit financially from doing the “right thing.”
Palestine, Settler Colonialism, and the National Question: Part I
On Tuesday, February 1, Amnesty International published a report titled “Israel’s Apartheid Against Palestinians: Cruel System of Domination and Crime Against Humanity”—officially joining B’Tselem, Human Rights Watch, and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia in condemning Israel’s systematic oppression of Palestinians as a criminal act of apartheid.
A Democratic Concept of Representation: An Analysis of the Ideal Concept of Representation in Democratic Institutions
Representation, at its core, is defined as “a making present again” or “the making present in some sense of something which is nevertheless not present literally or in fact.” However, in a democratic sense, representation goes beyond the simplistically unrefined definition above.