ABSTRACT
In this essay we shall analyse the critical dimension which is a distinctive feature of democratic practice in political institutions. The argument of the essay takes the following form:
We shall begin with some general considerations of method, examining (a) the notion of critique as a practice applied to political institutions and (b) the notion of ideology.
The second section of the essay goes on to establish two rules governing democratic practice in political institutions: ‘the rule of democratic diversity’ and ‘the rule of democratic uncertainty’.
The third section explains why pursuing aspirations, making demands, or posing requirements 1 (rather than merely applying functional criteria to a system) can be said to be the distinguishing feature of democracy.
Sections (ii) and (iii) together work towards two specific aspirations of democracy, which are discussed in
The final section of the essay, which will offer an analysis of two specific aspirations: the critique of reason of state 2 and the critique of government.
