Camila Vergara's Vision of Plebeian Constitutionalism
Jun 1, 2024
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Chilean political philosopher Camila Vergara discusses plebeian constitutionalism, arguing for citizen assemblies to counter elite abuse. The podcast explores oligarchic foundations of the US Constitution, challenges liberalism's flaws, and advocates for plebeian institutions to empower the common people.
Oligarchs corrupt democracies by capturing state governance and law, necessitating plebeian institutions for citizen representation.
Systemic corruption undermines modern democracies, requiring radical reform or revival of plebeian power structures.
Inclusion of plebeian institutions can combat elitist dominance and uphold democratic principles, advocating for citizen assemblies and legislation powers.
Deep dives
The Origin of Constitutional Democracy in the Global North
Constitutional democracy in the global north is viewed as a myth perpetuated over generations, with the US Constitution built as an oligarchic structure protecting property rights. Professor Camilla Vergara emphasizes the need for plebeians to hold constitutional power to counter corrupt oligarchs corrupting democracies worldwide.
Systemic Corruption and the Crisis of Democracy
Vergara highlights systemic corruption as a core issue in modern democracies, leading to wealth inequality exceeding historic levels. She stresses the urgency for radical reform or the revival of plebeian power structures to challenge the existing oligarchic system.
Rethinking Liberal Constitutional Systems
Vergara delves into the flaws of liberal constitutional systems, pointing out the discrepancy between proclaimed equality and actual power distribution. She advocates for the inclusion of plebeian institutions to counteract elitist dominance and uphold true democratic principles.
Challenges in Implementing Plebeian Institutions
The discussion shifts to the practical aspects of implementing plebeian institutions within a liberal system. Vergara explores the complexities of defining plebeian participants, suggesting wealth exclusion criteria and excluding those holding influential roles to ensure genuine democratic representation.
Empowering People through Collective Action
Vergara emphasizes the transformative power of collective action in shaping plebeian identity and institutional change. Drawing lessons from global movements like Occupy and the Chilean uprising, she highlights the importance of a participatory process and sustained engagement to foster meaningful democratic reform.
Chilean political philosopher Camila Vergara boldly argues in her book 'Systemic Corruption' that decay and corruption are inevitable even in liberal, representative systems because oligarchs end up capturing state governance and law. Ordinary people rarely have their own plebeian institutions to express their interests and curb the abuses of the elite. Drawing on ancient Greek and Roman history and four modern political philosophers, Professor Vergara makes an audacious case for constitutionally ordained plebeian institutions such as citizen assemblies through which citizens could propose and veto legislation and political appointees, among other powers. More on the commons: https://www.bollier.org.
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