The aporia of promises of liberal democracy and the rise of authoritarian politics. Issue 2 (3rd May 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ludwig, Gundula
• Is Part Of: Distinktion. Volume 21:Issue 2(2020)
• Page Start: 162
• Page End: 177
• Publication Date: 2020-05-03
• Subjects: Theory of democracy -- hegemony theory -- crisis of democracy -- rise of authoritarian politics -- neoliberalism -- gender politics -- sexual politics; Social sciences -- Periodicals; Social sciences -- Philosophy -- Periodicals; Social history -- Periodicals; 300
• DOI: 10.1080/1600910X.2019.1669688
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1600-910X

Abstract

ABSTRACT: In light of the current crisis of democracy, political theory faces the crucial question if the democracy in crisis can bring about a severe transformation of democracy and pave the way to replacing democracy with authoritarian government. Political theory is not only called upon to analyze the multiple processes of de-democratization but also to conceptualize the relationship between democracy and the rise of authoritarian politics. In this paper, I argue that to address these pressing questions, it is neither sufficient to solely focus on the state and state politics nor to solely focus on right-wing actors. Rather, it is necessary to address the current crises of democracy as a fundamental and comprehensive de-democratization of the state and society, which correlates with a far-reaching yet subtle de-democratization of everyday forms of living and subjectification. Furthermore, drawing on hegemony theory, I argue that the current de-democratization of the state and society along with the recent authorization of politics cannot only be viewed as having been forced upon the people. Instead, I argue that despite its anti-democratic and authoritarian character, current politics are also situated within a broader consensus. Focusing on gender and sexual politics, the paper scrutinizes how gender and sexual politics of the libertarian era of neoliberalism have contributed to a de-democratizing society, albeit in a subtle way, and by doing so the related discourses have helped to enable the current increase of authoritarian politics.