UC EVENTS

14 November 2023
11:00 AM – 12:00 NN (AEDT) 

13 November 2023
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM (PST)

Abstract

Over the past decades, scholars of democratic theory have begun to think of different democratic practices (e.g., resisting, voting or deliberating) as part of a larger democratic political system. In this paper, I examine the different democratic practices of recognizing, resisting, deliberating, representing, voting, joining, and exiting using an intersectional lens. Intersectionality is a suitable framework of analysis for three reasons. First, intersectionality emphasizes the ways in which social inequalities result from the intersection and mutual construction of systems of oppression. Second, intersectionality illuminates how our perception of social and political problems is affected by our positionality within these relations of power and systems of oppression. Thirdly, intersectionality demonstrates that different positionalities result in different standpoints on social and political phenomena including our assessment of the ability of democratic systems to deliver on democratic functions. Through this analysis, I argue that democratic systems approach must be more attentive to intersectional oppression for three reasons. First, some democratic practices are not viable options for all members of society. Therefore, we must be attentive to the innovations and approaches that could open-up possibilities for members of intersectional oppressed groups to benefit from these practices. Second, some practices work better for some individuals and groups resulting in unfair advantages within the democratic systems, prompting the need to shift from thinking about inclusion differently. Thirdly, and relatedly, intersectionality helps us better understand why some groups are more dependent on certain practices (i.e., resisting or exiting) than others (i.e., deliberation or recognising).

This seminar will be chaired by Jordan McSwiney.

About the speaker

Afsoun Afsahi is an Assistant Professor of Political Theory at the University of British Columbia (UBC). Prior to joining UBC, she held positions as a Justitia Amplificata Postdoctoral Fellow at Goethe University Frankfurt and as a Tenured Assistant Professor of Political Theory at the University of Amsterdam. Born and raised in Iran, she has lived in five different countries. Her most recent publications are: "The role of Self-Interest in Deliberation: A Theory of Deliberative Capital" (Political Studies, 2022) and "Towards a Principle of Most-Deeply Affected" (Philosophy and Social Criticism, 2021).