The Democratic Ideal and Its Normative Value for Future Generations

Peter Lawrence; Michael Reder

doi:10.1017/9781009655859.005

3 - The Democratic Ideal and Its Normative Value for Future Generations

from Part I - Normative Framework

Published online by Cambridge University Press: 19 September 2025

Peter Lawrence and

Michael Reder

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Peter Lawrence: Affiliation:
University of Tasmania
Michael Reder: Affiliation:
Hochschule fur Philosophie Munchen

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Summary

In Chapter 3, firstly, we reconstruct central theoretical models of democracy and enquire how an expansion of representation mechanisms for future generations could be conceptualised within these justificatory narratives. Secondly, we analyse the values that underlie democratic practices which can be helpful for advancing proxy representation at the international level by providing ethical criteria for such reforms. This involves analysing the discourses of intergenerational justice, solidarity and vulnerability. The chapter then turns to examine how these discourses can be translated into political forms of proxy representation by drawing on the all affected principle which requires that those affected by a decision have a role in the making of that decision, which is argued to be an element of most, if not all theories of democracy. This in turn is hypothesised to provide a basis for extension of the demos to include future generations, which then justifies proxy forms of representation to enable their representation . Human rights are argued to constitute a practice of global values which provides a powerful normative orientation for climate law and policy-making.

Keywords

Theories of democracy all affected principle democratic ideal intergenerational solidarity vulnerability demos future generations

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Type: Chapter
Information: Representing Future Generations
Climate Change and the Global Legal Order
, pp. 48 - 90

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009655859.005 [Opens in a new window]

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Print publication year: 2025

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