Participatory democracy and its relation to the ideal of collective self-government: A foundational approach to participatory ethics and its implications for a model of participatory democrac

This thesis proposes that a theoretical account of the relationship between participatory ethics and the fulfilment of democratic ideals ought to be a starting-point for any theory of participatory democracy. It suggests that many previous efforts to theorize participatory democracy tend to simply assume this relationship and focus instead on making an instrumental case for accommodating more citizen participation in processes of collective decision-making. In setting out a foundational approach to participatory democracy, this thesis argues that if participatory ethics are conceived of as equality of opportunity to exercise autonomy in processes of collective decision-making, then participatory democracy may be well-suited to fulfil the democratic ideal that citizens qua citizens of a political community are collectively self-governing. Two potential theories of participatory democracy are considered. First, deliberative democracy is examined and challenged. Second, associative democracy, is discussed. (Abstract shortened by UMI.).