Democracy, consensus and represantation

notes on the construction of the public sphere in Jacques Rancière and its contrast with consensual democracy

Abstract

The curtailment of political debate through consensual impositions has generated an impoverished public sphere, wherein divergent voices are silenced or subdued in the name of legitimacy through consent among the parties. Moreover, the excessive emphasis on political representation as the sole legitimate form of democratic participation has contributed to the weakening of the community, as representation tends to privilege certain interests and dominant groups, thus silencing the voices of ordinary citizens. Therefore, one of the issues we will address is whether the contemporary public sphere still exists in a democratic scenario constrained by consensual impositions and representation. Therefore, in examining Jacques Rancière's theses on the constitution of the public sphere and from his critique of the concept of consensus, the considerations of our article seek to identify the limits and implications affecting the contemporary democratic community.