Theories of democracy that are described as radical emphasize the democratic significance of forms of civil society participation, diverse opportunities for participation, and social engagement. Democratic institutions are defended as indispensable while also being related to a democratic culture that extends far beyond politics. Consequently, democracies are understood as orders that insist on a non-correspondence between politics (such as parliament and all elected representations; elections and referenda; fundamental and human rights; state administrations; separation of powers; parties) and the political (such as democratic engagement by various actors who contribute politically without explicit democratic legitimization). From this perspective, legality and legitimacy are always democratically related to each other, without completely merging.
Notable figures associated with conceptions of radical democracies include Chantal Mouffe, Ernesto Laclau, Jacques Derrida, Judith Butler, Hannah Arendt, Claude Lefort, Wendy Brown, Richard Rorty, Etienne Balibar, Robin Celikates, Oliver Marchart, Dagmar Comtesse, Katrin Meyer, and many others; historically earlier figures would include Henry David Thoreau, Denis Diderot, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Montesquieu, and others.
Radical democracy designs are extensively researched, critically examined, and discussed in teaching by philosophers at the University of St. Gallen. We publish on questions of radical democratic theory and participate in various ways in current debates.
