Democracy on a global level - feasible or utopian?
Cosmopolitan Democracy vs. Deliberative Democracy?

Name: Thilo Schneider

BA- Politikwissenschaft, 3. Fachsemester
Global governance by global frameworks (in English), WS 2006/2007
Elektronisch eingereicht am: 26. März 2006
Als Einschreiben geschickt am: 27. März 2006

Anzahl Wörter: 4.629

Table of Contents

1 Introduction 1

2 Cosmopolitan Democracy 2
2.1 Introduction 2
2.2 The „principle of autonomy“ 3
2.3 Democratic public law 4

3 Deliberative Democracy 6
3.1 Deliberation 6
3.2 Public Spheres 7

4 Cosmopolitan Democracy vs. Deliberative Democracy? 8
4.1 Mode of legitimacy – Input/output. 10
4.2 Principle of differentiation – functional/sectoral 11
4.3 Political Style – Horizontal/Hierarchical 12

5 Final Comparison and Evaluation 12

6 List of literature 16

1 Introduction

Democracy as a principle has become the universal global concept for political systems. One can observe an at least formal adaptation of democratic structures around the globe. Through an increasing complexity international relations change faster and are harder to overview. In this context the impact of economic globalization is an omnipresent phenomenon in the public sphere. Globalization can be analysed with the help of different theories: Some come to the conclusion that it is a positive development for most people; others point out strong negative consequences. In turn some argue it is a completely new phenomenon, some say it is an old phenomenon existing for centuries. Others proclaim the inevitableness or the concrete designability of globalization. (cp. Schaeffer 2003: 1)

In this written homework I will use the term “globalization” to “describe the growth and spread in investment, trade, and production, the introduction of new technology, and the spread of democracy around the world”. (ibid. 2003: 1). It has to be noticed that this economic globalization “would affect not only production, finance, technology, media and fashion, but also the international political system, leading also to a globalization of democracy“ (Archibugi 2004: 438) Here it is important to note, that on the one hand I support the claim that the ideas of democracy are globalized, on the other hand , however, there has to be kept in mind, the constraint that democracy is only global as a formal or structural blueprint. The flexible characteristics and focuses of democracy differ in many ways; therefore it is not possible to state that an all-embracing final democratic model exists.

According to Pauly the impact of globalization shortens national capacities so that they become “inefficient regulators of markets that cross their borders, ..” (Pauly 2000: 4) This raises questions about the democratic legitimacy of an increasingly internationally operating government and international institutions with an indefinite and not clearly defined designation of legitimacy caused by a weak democratic proportion on a global level.

Additionally one can observe a rapidly growing number of non-state actors and rising influence like TNCs and NGOs. Approaches concerning the processing of these topics are described under the wide field of “global governance”.

To regain political power and create security, states try to cooperate through international institutions, bi- and multilateral agreements or regional economic federations.

How can we create a model of democratic governance with convincing arguments concerning questions about accountability, democratic leaks, transparency and areas of responsibility? Transparency means the provision of a comparable data of a public good to the citizens so that they are able to value processes and structures. This is only one problem of global governance. Contrariwise accountability means that regulators and decision-makers have to be taken responsible by the affected people. (cp. Cable 1999: 103 ff.)

The theoretical discussion and their discourse offer help to take a look on today’s institutions and their problems, the role of the state and the possible implementation approaches of theoretical ideas towards a democratic form of global governance. One solution, obviously, would be a transfer of states´ sovereignty to a regional or global level.

I will concentrate on the confrontation of two basic models of democracy beyond the nationstate, the Cosmopolitan Democracy and the Deliberative Democracy. Based on different normative assumptions they have different ideas of how to create a more adequate form of governance. I will present both concepts separately followed by an all-embracing valuation and a conclusion.

2 Cosmopolitan Democracy

2.1 Introduction

Cosmopolitan Democracy, comprehensively outlined by David Held, means a concept how to implement a democratic society within, among and beyond states. (Cp. Archibugi 2004: 438) It is „a political project for a different world order. “ (Archibugi 1998: 199)

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