(DOWNLOAD) "Breakdowns in the Democratic Process and the Law of Canadian Democracy." by McGill Law Journal " Book PDF Kindle ePub Free
eBook details
- Title: Breakdowns in the Democratic Process and the Law of Canadian Democracy.
- Author : McGill Law Journal
- Release Date : January 01, 2011
- Genre: Law,Books,Professional & Technical,
- Pages : * pages
- Size : 371 KB
Description
In this article I seek to develop a theoretical framework through which to view the law of democracy in Canada. Such a framework has been largely absent from the jurisprudence of the Supreme Court of Canada. I argue that a defining problem in the law of democracy is the existence of incentives for political actors to manipulate election laws to ensure self-serving ends. I summarize and critically evaluate the main competing theoretical approaches to the law of democracy in the United States, namely structural theory and rights theory. I conclude that structural theory provides a more accurate descriptive understanding of the law of democracy than rights theory and a more convincing normative framework through which to evaluate existing democratic institutions. Applying structural theory to Canadian democracy, I find ample reason to be concerned about self-interested manipulation of the democratic process. I develop a preliminary typology of breakdowns in the democratic process, which I label partisan, incumbent, and interest entrenchment breakdowns, and provide examples from Canadian law and politics. I conclude by suggesting future directions for research, particularly on judicial doctrine and the role of intervening institutions. Dans cet article, je cherche a developper un cadre theorique pour comprendre le droit de la democratie au Canada. Un tel cadre demeure toujours inexistant dans la jurisprudence de la Cour supreme du Canada. Je suggere qu'un des problemes les plus serieux du droit de la democratie est l'existence d'incitatifs, pour les politiciens, a manipuler les lois electorales a leurs propres fins. Je resume et evalue de facon critique les principales approches concurrentes en droit de la democratie aux Etats-Unis, soit la structural theory et la rights theory . Je conclus que la structural theory permet une comprehension descriptive plus precise du droit de la democratie que la rights theory, en plus d'offrir un cadre normatif plus convaincant par lequel nous pouvons evaluer les institutions democratiques existantes. En appliquant la structural theory a l'etude de la democratie canadienne, j'identifie de nombreuses raisons d'etre preoccupe par la manipulation egoiste du processus democratique. Je developpe une typologie preliminaire des effondrements de processus democratique, classes suivant les categories suivantes : partisans, titulaires et effondrement des interets enchasses. Je fournis ensuite des exemples canadiens en droit et en politique. Je termine en suggerant de possibles projets de recherche futurs, notamment sur la doctrine judiciaire et le role des institutions intervenantes.