The 4 th International Conference on Democracy as Idea and Practice, Oslo, January 10-11, 2013 Workshop 5: The importance of Representation in Processes of Democratisation Olle Törnquist The challenge of class in democratic transformative politics (Early, unfinished and possibly pretentious pls do not quote!)
Introduction The setbacks in the third wave of democratisation, with special regard to popular representation and implementation of welfare and growth policies, have revived old discussions about structuraldevelopmental conditions. Growing consensus on severe deficits that cannot be associated with transition but seem quite permanent. Yet, widespread disagreement on the roots and dynamics of the problems and of what can and should be done. Three basic responses. 1/ Improve liberal institutions! 2/ Democracy cannot be designed, but calls for structural change of the relations of power! 3/ Constitutionalism before popular sovereignty sequence democracy! (From Euro-US as well as China, Vietnam...and Bangkok and Tahrir ) 4/ (we ): Space is there, god for politicisation, popular representation, (comparative) democratic transformative politics (gradualism)!
What s next? Closer studies of how attempts at democratic transformative politics are affected by the political economy & the role of class. Five structural challenges of old working class based transformative democratic politics in the Global South 1/ Post-colonial development by class politics at the expense of democracy was (often) followed by economic & political liberalism at the expense of popular class based development. 2/ Capital accumulation and growth but not so strong working class and industrial entrepreneurs 3/ More social fragmentation and multitude of cleavages 4/ Authoritarian new industrialising regimes and weaker parties, unions and alternative culture -- and vacillating new middle classes and plebeian strata 5/ Reduced importance of rival powers and global alliances
Yes, no revival of the old - but insufficient analyses needed for discussions about the problems and options of new democratic transformative politics 1/ insufficient comparisons opt for contrasting of contexts! 2/ insufficient point of departure in the North opt for upsidedown comparisons by starting from the South! 3/ Yes, different capitalisms and class but analyse this closer, then, to trace possible new dynamics! 4/ Regarding transformative politics: consider process, stages, and the possible primacy of politics! 5/ Focus on the challenges (in comparative perspective) of exciting openings
Possibly exciting openings (from my horizon) 1/ Possibly unifying effect on agents of democratic transf. politics of demands for welfare policies (on part of both sections of labour/m-classes and certain sections of business). 2/ Examples of extension of trade unionism to involve informal sectors and self-employed, migrant labour 3/ Increasing awareness (among potential agents of democratic transf. politics) of the importance of institutionalised channels of representation - To scale up local central - To go beyond resource demanding lobbying/good contacts, the buying into elections; and to secure results of deals with populist leaders - To foster welfare-based growth coalitions 4/ Tendencies towards class related alliances and collective action regarding the crucial aspects of political-accumulation of capital in corruption 5/ Tendencies that socio-religious reform movements may move towards politics of more equal political and social citizenship and public welfare 6/ The possibility that soc-dem with green oriented agents in the North may (in their own interest) be interested in global job, welfare & environment oriented Keynesianism. 08/01/2013 5