Rethinking Democracy in Anthropocene: A Menciusian Perspective on Vulnerability

• In Event: Democracy and Governance from above and Below: Vulnerability and Possibility

Abstract

In response to the global environmental crisis and the resurgence of nationalist politics, there's a prevailing inclination to categorize the patriarchal, antagonistic, and toxic strain of politics under labels such as "illiberal populism" or "authoritative populism" within the Anthropocene. Contrary to the trend of moving beyond Anthropocene politics in favor of post-humanist approaches, this paper contends that essential questions concerning the Anthropogenic concept of "people," integral to both democracy and populism, still demand attention.
Following Nietzsche's declaration of the "death of God," the concept of "people" evolved from its communal origin into the present neoliberal subjects of individuals. This transformation resulted in a discernible gap between the venerated status of "Homo-Democraticus" and the often marginalized reality of concrete people as "Homo-sacer," consequently hollowing out the concept of people as a lived experience and fueling repressive forms of politics. However, this very gap also presented opportunities for theoretical and historical mutations that could potentially reimagine democracy.
Consequently, this paper examines three contemporary theoretical projects that seek to "return to the root" of democracy: namely, Habermas' deliberative democracy, Laclau and Mouffe's agonistic democracy, and Negri's democracy of multitude. These projects aim to address the challenges posed by the Anthropocene through a comprehensive redefinition of "people." In Habermas' framework, the "people" is dissolved within procedures, embedded within a legal framework and "communication power" emphasizing intersubjectivity, potentially facilitating a transition from public opinion to political legitimacy. Conversely, Laclau and Mouffe argue for a radical democratic project that activates the empty signifier of "people," fostering a dynamic democracy where different political projects are in constant competition. In Negri's case, the dangerous homogenization represented by the "people" is reconstructed into the irreducible "multitude." While all three approaches contribute significantly to envisioning a democratic project while keeping populism at bay, deliberative democracy and agonistic democracy fall short as they still rely on the concept of the people as a transcendental position. Negri's multitude, on the other hand, necessitates an ontological promise of immanence to secure its political potential. Ultimately, these projects conceptualize the idea of the people from the elevated state of Homo-Democraticus rather than from the standpoint of people as vulnerable collectivities.
In conclusion, this paper proposes the inclusion of a Menciusian concept of vulnerability in the conceptualization of the demos. Mencius's emphasis on a shared commitment to the vulnerability of the human condition and the rejection of a transcendental sovereign could potentially serve as the starting point for a renewed, concrete democratic politics.

Author

• Duan Zheng, Tongji University