Leiden University Student Repository

Franke, Lisa Suzanne (2016)

The Challenge of the Refugee Crisis on the ‘Constitution of the Demos’ and on Democracy

Master thesis | Philosophy (MA) (60 EC)

The arrival of many refugees to Europe and the differing opinions that I have mentioned is a development that leads to a heated discussion. It also poses a challenge on democracy itself. This brings me to reflect on the following question in this thesis: how can we deal with the current refugee crisis in a democratic way? I will focus on the subject of democratic self-rule and what it means to be a member of a political unity. The following questions will come across: Who does legitimately belong to the demos and how should it be decided in a democratic way who belongs legitimately to the demos? I will show that the answer to this question is not as straight-forward as it might seem. Boundaries are mostly based on a contingent happening in history. This thesis will show that there are different principles to rethink the legitimacy of the demos and who should be included. It will also show that the solution that is to be chosen, depends on the view on democracy itself.

Constitution of the demos

Democracy

Refugees

Author

Franke, Lisa Suzanne

Faculty

Faculty of Humanities

Specialisation

Philosophy, Politics & Economics

Supervisors

Fossen, Thomas

ECTS Credits

10

Language

en