At the heart of Western liberal regimes is a new divide between two possible horizons for democracy.
Because what exactly do we want?
Do we aspire to an extension of individual rights or do we hope for a better expression of the general will?
Do we want a democracy by law or a democracy by votes?
Both perspectives have their advantages and disadvantages between which we will nevertheless have to choose, and quickly.
Democracy by votes is faithful to the original meaning of the term (
"government of the people, by the people, for the people",
as Lincoln said), but it comes up against a difficulty that Proudhon summed up in a shocking formula:
"The people are hardly democratic.”
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It therefore happens that its suffrage, including the majority, produces disastrous effects: terror, oppression of minorities, draconian measures, taste for despots… Reason for which this will of the people was framed by the regime of the rule of law.
But not just any...
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