Frontiers of Commoning, with David Bollier cover image

Frontiers of Commoning, with David Bollier

Camila Vergara's Vision of Plebeian Constitutionalism

Jun 1, 2024
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.
53:28

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • 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.

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.

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