https://theloop.ecpr.eu/democracy-must-not-be-a-distracted-caterpillar/
Phil Paine, a long-standing scholar and friend of democratic theory(ies), especially in nuanced inter-linguistic comparative historical work, puts out our feet a tricky question:
Why is it that dictators, authoritarians, autocrats, etc., seem to know what notions of democracy they wish to attack but that "we", supporters of democracy, tend to be less certain about what it is we are defending?
Paine reveals a risk in the sorts of philosophy that question strong theory. He isn't arguing against this crucially important role of philosophy - because we always need to be questioning our theories - but is rather saying, I think, that we need to get better at playing defence and offence (for a sports metaphor) in the worldwide struggle for deepening democracy be that politically, socially, economically, publically, privately, etc.
Perhaps one answer to Paine's question is that enemies of democracy are less prone to seeing democracy in plural terms. They are, perhaps, more interested in mechanisms of power, and how to wield that power for themselves/their collective interests.
Does this mean democratic theory, as a field of practitioners, should intentionally focus more on mechanisms of power as well?
What do you think?
https://theloop.ecpr.eu/democracy-must-not-be-a-distracted-caterpillar/
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