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The Dilemma of Regress

Social Justice and Democracy in Recent Critical Theory

University of Hamburg

Workfare reforms under conditions of fiscal and democratic constraints are the starting point for a reflection on the relationship between social justice and democracy. The focus is on a dilemma of regress or circularity, defined as a situation in which these principles mutually presuppose each other. The main section picks up on the theoretical challenge to escape this dilemma. By examining the critical theory of Nancy Fraser, Jürgen Habermas and Axel Honneth, it argues that the concepts of Fraser and Honneth seem particularly promising because they integrate discourse ethics with a more systematic reflection about social justice and recognition. Yet they tend to suffer from the tendency to replicate the dilemma of regress on a higher level of reflection by treating social justice and democracy in a sequential manner as primary or secondary issues. In search for a solution the concluding section suggests a balanced intervention into the problem of regressive presupposition.

Key Words: critical theory • deliberative democracy • discourse ethics • European governance • recognition • social justice • workfare reform

European Journal of Political Theory, Vol. 6, No. 2, 160-179 (2007)
DOI: 10.1177/1474885107074348


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