An Egalitarian Case for Class-Specific Political Institutions
Political theorists concerned with counteracting the oligarchic tendencies of liberal democracies have recently paid more attention to the employment of “class-specific institutions” (CSIs) — i.e., political institutions formally excluding wealthy elites from participation. This article disputes a general objection levelled against the justifiability of CSIs, according to which their democratic credentials are outweighed by their transgression of formal political equality. I argue that CSIs’ exclusionary thrust is, amongst other things, justified because they unfold against the background of badly ordered, class-divided societies. Yet, I also claim that the justification of CSIs depends on their orientation toward overcoming such divisions because, otherwise, they might wrongfully entrench them.