Abstract

CANSINO, César. Subverting Democracy: Old and New Reading Keys. Tla-melaua [online]. 2016, vol.9, n.39, pp.92-106. ISSN 2594-0716.

The topic of democracy appears today as simple, but in reality it is complex, because behind the word "democracy" there are several things that are hidden. In this sense, the word "democracy" became a neuralgic political issue. The complexity of the topic of democracy is evident through all discussions that currently exist around the idea of the development of democracy, which is located in the center of action of the European Union, and in the center of the American action. Nevertheless, Europeans and Americans do not share the same definition. To simplify, Americans have a definition that is strictly liberal and institutional, while Europeans try to defend a vision of democracy that is more societal.

The contribution of the reflection on history and the action of democracy is to demonstrate that the development of democracy is not merely the development of more direct democracy, but of more reflection and further deliberation. A highly subversive definition of democracy is to bring reasoning in the public opinion.

Keywords : Democracy; Public Space; Civil Society; Equality; Freedom.