What is a deliberative system? A tale of two ontologies

M. Bevir, K.Y.S. Chan*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Deliberative systems theorists have not explained what a deliberative system is. There are two problems here for deliberative systems theory: an empirical problem of boundaries (how to delineate the content of a deliberative system) and a normative problem of evaluation (how to evaluate the deliberation within a deliberative system). We argue that an adequate response to these problems requires a clear ontology. The existing literature suggests two coherent but mutually exclusive ontologies. A functionalist ontology postulates self-sustaining deliberative systems with their own functional goals and logics independent of human intentionality. In contrast, an interpretive ontology conceives of deliberative systems as the products of the beliefs and actions of the actors in the relevant practices—deliberative systems derive from human intentionality. We conclude by showing how these conflicting ontologies lead to different empirical and normative agendas.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)445-464
Number of pages20
JournalEuropean Journal of Political Theory
Volume22
Issue number3
Early online date20 Aug 2021
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jul 2023

JEL classifications

  • f50 - International Relations and International Political Economy: General

Keywords

  • DEMOCRACY
  • Deliberation
  • SOCIETY
  • deliberative democracy
  • deliberative system
  • functionalism
  • interpretivism
  • ontology

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