Republican inspiration and democracy

Abstract

Nowadays, democracy is considered to be the most valuable, unrivalled political order. However, it is nevertheless experiencing a great many setbacks. This article argues that there are valuable intellectual resources to be found in the highly plural tradition of republicanism, both from an analytical viewpoint and from a regulatory stance, for tackling the difficulties and contradictions of present-day democracy. On the one hand, an analysis is made of some of the inherited problems resulting from partially exhausted political operation; next, an examination is made of the challenges posed by unexpected social transformations, almost all of which had not been experienced previously, and lastly the new scenarios
that open up, first after the disappearance of blocks, and then after the events of 11-S, are studied. On the other hand and while still acknowledging the context of concern and uncertainty caused by new conditions, we move on to explain a reformulation of politics and democracy, which to a certain extent finds its inspiration in republicanism but which, above
all, is configured as a coherent set of feasible proposals and answers that are available for meeting the challenges and priorities of the political agenda of our time on their own level.