Why Sustain Democracy?

This chapter formulates the central problem of the book: the democrat’s dilemma. The dilemma emerges from a conflict between two directives of citizenship: first, citizens must politically participate on behalf of their best judgments of what justice requires, and second, citizens must treat one another as equals. But when we disagree about politics, we see those who oppose us as not merely wrong about the issue at hand, but in the wrong. We see our opposition as devoted to a mistaken vision of justice, and thus as advocating injustice. So why treat them as our equals? Why uphold the democratic requirement to acknowledge them as entitled to an equal say? Why not instead seek simply to defeat them politically? In short, why sustain democracy in our interactions with them? This chapter argues that there are often quite compelling reasons for citizens to suspend democracy. Thus, sustaining democracy is a challenge.