Democratic Competition: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
Political scientist Ian Shapiro argues that some recent forms of political competition have fragmented voters into blocs, impeding the adoption of long-term, overarching policies.
While political competition is essential for democratic accountability, popular pressure for “more democratic” forms of decision-making—such as referenda and primaries—has actually produced harmful results, both in the United States and Europe. Political scientist Ian Shapiro notes that these forms of political competition have fragmented voters into blocs, impeding the adoption of long-term, overarching policies. Moreover, right-wing parties have gained increased legitimacy; in systems based on proportional representation, gerrymandering has caused widespread electoral polarization; and global peace and security have been threatened by the rise of protectionism and economic nationalism. In this lecture, Shapiro argues that it’s more important than ever to consider the consequences of decentralized forms of political competition, and he outlines conditions under which countries can create constructive forms of democratic participation within existing constitutional frameworks.
Generously supported by Daimler-Fonds
Meet the speaker
Ian Shapiro is Sterling Professor of Political Science at Yale University, where he also serves as Henry R. Luce Director of the MacMillan Center for International and Area Studies. He has written widely on democracy, justice, and the methods of social inquiry. In democratic theory, he has argued that democracy’s value comes primarily from its…
Watch event related videos
If you missed an event, you can watch the video recording here.