Demokratie und Abwertung

With the aim of systematically reconstructing its argumentative and discursive structure, Annika D’Avis examines the denigration of the lower classes in 19th-century political theories. At the heart of her analysis is the idea that this devaluation emerges from a close interrelation between concepts of democracy and civilisation. Drawing on key theorists, she demonstrates how liberal approaches in particular delegitimised the lower strata through specific attributions. The author identifies recurring patterns of argumentation from the 19th century that continue to influence contemporary debates in democratic theory. In doing so, her work encourages a critical reflection on 'the view downwards' in political theory.