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ID: 153288

Democratic duty to oppose Brexit / Weale, Albert

Weale, Albert	Journal Article
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Summary/Abstract

What should be the position of democrats in response to the Brexit referendum? Many urge a duty to accept the result. This article argues the contrary. If someone is a UK citizen, has a belief that leaving the European Union will be damaging to the common good of the UK and is a convinced democrat, then that person has a duty to oppose Brexit. Neither of the two principal reasons for accepting the result—a claim of popular sovereignty or of parliamentary sovereignty—imply a duty not to continue to oppose. Arguments from political equality for simple majority rule do not apply when the alternatives are ill defined. More generally, popular sovereignty presupposes and does not replace constitutional democracy, and in a parliamentary democracy there is always a continuing right to oppose.

Key Words

Political Obligation ; Referendum ; Popular Sovereignty ; Brexit ; Constitutional Government ; Duty to Oppose

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ID: 102687

New modes of governance, political accountability and public re / Weale, Albert

Weale, Albert	Journal Article
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2011.

Key Words

Election ; Governance ; Political Accountability ; Public Reason

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ID: 149212

Nostalgic democracy triumphs over democratic internationalism / Weale, Albert

Weale, Albert	Journal Article
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Summary/Abstract

‘Take back control’ and ‘we want our country back’ are pre-eminently the principles of engaged democratic citizens. No one listening to the footsoldiers of the Leave campaign could doubt their sincerity or their commitment. Many believed themselves to be fighting for a cause greater than the standard of living or the control of tariffs on goods and services. For them the single market was a mundane matter. Instead, they thought in terms of parliamentary representatives determining the common political life in the UK. They accepted that governments might bungle, but they wanted the right to cashier the bunglers through elections. They wanted to live under rules chosen by the people of the UK. They wanted the democratic autonomy of which Pericles spoke when he praised Athens: our system of government does not copy the institutions of our neighbours; it is more a case of our being a model to others than of our imitating anyone else. Taking this form, the Brexit referendum was thus the victory of nostalgic democracy.

Key Words

Nostalgic Democracy Triumphs ; Democratic Internationalism

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