ABSTRACT
This chapter presents Kelsen's theory of democracy in relation to its epistemological, ontological and ethical assumptions. The task of demythologizing the concepts of the State, authoritative power and absolute political values places Kelsen's political theory in the tradition of individualism, proceduralism and ethos-free politics that underlie the modern concept of associational membership. Kelsen has made numerous critical remarks about ancient political philosophy. Contemporary political philosophy is increasingly challenged by the problem of the vitality and stability of liberal and pluralistic democracies. The concept of associational membership, which influenced contemporary communitarian and civic republican contributions to civil society and civic friendship, arises from the ancient idea of the political that is realized in citizenship. Kelsen's project of demythologizing the political is most clearly expressed at this point: the rational reason for politics is not the bonum commune, justice, society, community, nature or some other superhuman standard.
