ABSTRACT
This chapter considers, despite the fact that she did not frame her work in terms of democracy, how themes in Wollstonecraft’s political theory – notably popular sovereignty, extended franchise, political representation, social egalitarianism, citizenship rights and duties, and participation in public discussion – are clearly connected to later theories of democracy. Some questions are raised about Wollstonecraft’s theory of equality, in relation to democratic participation. She insists on relational equality of status and regard, and equality of opportunity by way of education and training; and on strict equality of rights and duties; but presumes material inequality, limited just by sufficiency for all. The limits of the democratic nature of the transitions from authoritarian and hierarchical to republican, egalitarian and just polities, are also considered: this raises the matter of how political representatives have to represent something other than citizens’ expressed will, in situations where expressed will cannot be taken to be a reliable guide to an individual’s interests.
