Identitätspolitik ist notwendig für die Demokratisierung der Demokratie, denn nur durch Identitätspolitik kann die Mehrheitsgesellschaft ein Bewusstsein für Diskriminierungsverhältnisse erlangen. Um die universelle Vernunft zu korrigieren, sollten deshalb identitätspolitische Standpunkte privilegiert werden. Wie sich für diese These argumentieren lässt, ohne dabei in einen identitätspolitischen Fundamentalismus und Relativismus zu verfallen, zeige ich im neuen open-access Artikel in Constellations.

Abstract

Identity politics is commonly criticized as endangering democracy by undermining community, rational communication, and solidarity. Drawing on both radical democratic theory and standpoint theory, this article posits the opposite thesis: identity politics is pivotal for the democratization of democracy. Democratization through identity politics is achieved by disrupting hegemonic discourse and is, therefore, a matter of power, while such forms of power politics are reasonable when following minority standpoints generated through identity politics. The article develops this approach by connecting radical democratic theories with standpoint theories and highlighting their commonalities and potential for mutual enhancement. Standpoint theory allows us to substantiate and reconcile two initially contradictory claims: particular minority standpoints are necessary to criticize the prevailing discursive and institutional orders, and these standpoints stem from intersubjective reason and embody ‘strong objectivity.’ This discussion presents a new perspective on the tension between particularity and universality, as well as the relationship between power and reason in democracy. Democratization is an oscillation between these polarities, and political theory should not aim to resolve this tension but to recognize and articulate it. Such recognition might involve elevating knowledge emerging from oppressed groups and exercising epistemic modesty when assessing specific forms of identity politics.

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Schubert, Karsten (2023): Identity politics and the democratization of democracy. Oscillations between power and reason in radical democratic and standpoint theory. In: Constellations, online first. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-8675.12715

Kürzer geht immer

Einige Kernargumente des Artikels sind in einem kurzen deutschen und englischen Blogpost veröffentlicht, die hier gefunden werden können. Achtung, die Blogversionen basiert auf einem älteren Manuskript; der Artikel bietet eine nuanciertere Version der Argumente.


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