Original scientific paper

https://doi.org/10.20901/pp.15.1.04

Does Democratic Legitimacy Have a Boundary Problem? Not if You’re a Realist

Jan Rodin orcid.org/0009-0006-3008-8631 ; University of Zagreb, Faculty of Political Science *

* Corresponding author.

Abstract

Abizadeh has argued that when democratic theory defines the people who comprise a demos, the character of that theory is self-referential because the democratic principle of legitimacy invokes the same people over whom democratic rule is exercised. On this view, the legitimate outcome of a decision is simultaneously its precondition. This challenge to democratic legitimacy is known as the legitimate boundary problem. In this realist reply informed by Bernard Williams, I argue that Abizadeh’s position renders democratic legitimation an undesirably open-ended question and that democratic legitimacy is satisfied internally, with reference only to the state’s citizens as its demos.

Keywords

Arash Abizadeh; Bernard Williams; political realism; democratic legitimacy; legitimate boundary problem

Hrčak ID:

332991

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/332991

Publication date:

30.6.2025.

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