Dates and Times
01 August 2023
11:00 - 12:00
Event for
Location
Organiser
Centre for Deliberative Democracy and Global Governance
Speakers
Ian O'Flynn
Enquiry
Event about:
Vetoes Rights in Power-Sharing Democracies: A Justificatory Test
This event is hybrid. Join us on Zoom or at Building 24, University of Canberra.
Vetoes Rights in Power-Sharing Democracies: A Justificatory Test
Veto rights are a prominent institutional feature in divided societies, especially power-sharing democracies. Yet while vetoes are intended to protect the vital interests of communities, they can give rise serious concerns about political equality and legislative deadlock. In response, we argue that vetoes should be subject to a justificatory test grounded in public reason in general and human rights law in particular. Having considered two potential practical difficulties attaching to our approach, we conclude by noting how a justificatory test of the sort that we defend may actually pave the way for a more stable and progressive politics.
This paper is co-authored by David Russell from the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission.
This seminar will be chaired by Jordan McSwiney.
Additional Information
A?bout the speaker
Ian O’Flynn is Professor of Political Theory in the School of Geography, Politics and Sociology, Newcastle University, UK. Much of his work has focused on the implications of deliberative democracy for societies deeply divided along ethnic lines, with a particular focus on the design of power-sharing institutions. His books include Deliberative Democracy and Divided Societies (Edinburgh University Press, 2006), Deliberative Democracy (Polity, 2021) and (with Ron Levy and Hoi Kong) Deliberative Peace Referendums (Oxford University Press, 2021).
UC acknowledges the Ngunnawal people, traditional custodians of the lands where Bruce campus is situated. We wish to acknowledge and respect their continuing culture and the contribution they make to the life of Canberra and the region. We also acknowledge all other First Nations Peoples on whose lands we gather.