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SUMMARY:Deliberative Democracy and Illiteracy:  Exploring a Theoretical Ga
 p - Udit Bhatia\, Faculty of Education
DTSTART:20131113T130000Z
DTEND:20131113T140000Z
UID:TALK48860@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:J. Gilevskaja
DESCRIPTION:I wish to demonstrate that literacy is not necessary for parti
 cipation in a deliberative democracy. First\, I examine the existing liter
 ature and demonstrate how the necessity of literacy has either been assume
 d or left entirely unquestioned. I argue that this is a significant gap wi
 th major conceptual and normative significance since several democracies h
 ave very high illiteracy rates. I reflect upon the overwhelming focus on i
 deal theory as a method of conceptual and normative analysis in political 
 philosophy\, and its inability to provide guidance in cases that depart ra
 dically from the ideal. Next\, I examine hypothetical reasons that might b
 e offered against the possibility of illiterate citizens participating mea
 ningfully in the deliberative democratic process. I discuss what it means 
 to be informed\, by examining the informational requirements that central 
 principles of deliberative democracy impose upon citizens. Then\, I highli
 ght the role of non-literary sources and informal political conversation a
 nd argue that\, while deliberative democrats are correct in criticizing th
 em for their weak deliberative quality\, they ought to recognize the infor
 mational role that such sites play in the deliberative system. Finally\, I
  examine how scepticism towards the possibility of deliberative democracy 
 in semi-literate societies is rooted in biases against non-western experie
 nces of the public sphere and political communication. Deliberative democr
 acy can operate\, imperfectly perhaps\, even in such unfavourable conditio
 ns. I suggest that this conclusion ought to re-orient the way in which we 
 discuss the ‘necessity’ of education in a democracy.
LOCATION:Room 2S5\, Donald McIntyre Building\, Faculty of Education\, 184 
 Hills Road\, Cambridge CB2 8PQ
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