Demarchy: A Dubious Conception of Global Democracy

Abstract

Globalization and intensified international cooperation have led to a significant transfer of power from democratic assemblies to governments, bureaucracies, and anonymous, or at least non-transparent, networks of agents largely free of political accountability. But how can democratic decision-making be established in a largely de-nationalized world? In this paper, I shall focus on John Burnheim’s conception of global “demarchy.” Since it is a thoroughly anti-statist conception flirting with certain anarchistic ideas, demarchy seems to be a fresh and interesting alternative. It suggests a variety of overlapping functional communities, communities of people who are confronted with one and the same social problem and therefore have a legitimate material interest in decisions of an authority that has the power to deal with the particular problem. Furthermore, in demarchy, decision-makers are not being elected but assigned by lot. Not many will find this conception feasible and attractive. However, a critical analysis of the shortcomings of “demarchy” can provide us with a clearer picture of today’s problems.