The contribution undertakes an examination of the notion of “crisis” of modern democracy by exploring certain aspects of Hobbesian thought and analyzing some features of contemporary constitutions, like the Weimar Constitution and the Italian Constitution. The aim is to show that what is often perceived as a “crisis” in democracy can be better understood as the emergence of certain structural aporias, which must be examined in their connection with the concept of “the people”. These aporias challenge the foundation of democracy, that is, the idea of democracy as a stable political system grounded in “the people”. In short, the crisis of democracy, namely, the idea that democracy is destined to face a crisis due to its aporetic structure, must be interpreted as one of its essential features.
Democracy without Foundation
Antonino Scalone
2025
Abstract
The contribution undertakes an examination of the notion of “crisis” of modern democracy by exploring certain aspects of Hobbesian thought and analyzing some features of contemporary constitutions, like the Weimar Constitution and the Italian Constitution. The aim is to show that what is often perceived as a “crisis” in democracy can be better understood as the emergence of certain structural aporias, which must be examined in their connection with the concept of “the people”. These aporias challenge the foundation of democracy, that is, the idea of democracy as a stable political system grounded in “the people”. In short, the crisis of democracy, namely, the idea that democracy is destined to face a crisis due to its aporetic structure, must be interpreted as one of its essential features.
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