Abstract
This paper articulates a functionalist account of intra-party democracy (IPD), which aims to evaluate IPD practices on the basis of their contribution to the broader democratic system rather than taking the limited perspective of the party itself. Merging the insights of realist critics with certain revisionist advocates of IPD, this functionalist account generates two key conclusions. First, inclusionary party reform is less urgent in more flexible party systems, where dissenters can more easily deploy inter-party competition. Second, IPD should aim primarily at enabling ordinary party members to resist agenda capture by oligarchic interests. Though we do not defend any particular set of reforms, we reject the recent emphasis on individualized forms of deliberative participation, in favor of a more oppositional and collective approach to creating countervailing power.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 347-369 |
| Journal | Journal of Political Philosophy |
| Volume | 30 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 27 Oct 2021 |