Problems of Democracy

The international conference Problems of democracy will take place in Prague from 30th April to 2nd May 2010.

The conference will explore the following questions:

1. What Counts as Democracy?
What are the assumptions that lie behind democracy? Is democracy an end in itself, or does it serve other values and goals?
“Government by, for and of the people”: what political, epistemic and/or other commitments might such an ideal entail?
Is ‘What counts as democracy?’ in any sense a moral question?

2. Is Democracy a Good Thing?
What exactly does democracy have to recommend it?
What are the connections between democracy and equality? And what does equality amount to? Is it self-evident that equality is an end to be pursued; or are there substantive arguments in its favour?
How does democracy understand freedom? And is freedom a self-evident good?
Alternatives to democracy

3. Forms of democracy
Considerations of representative, delegated and discursive models of democracy
Is there a case for lotteries to replace – or supplement – elections?
he scope of democracy: state, nation, corporation, workplace, “community” and locality

call for papers, more information