Leiden University Student Repository

Buijs, Robin (2026)

The Empty Seat of Power: On the identity of the people, democracy and totalitarianism

Master thesis | Political Science (MSc)

Claude Lefort conceptualises democracy as a society that is built around an indeterminacy, in which power originates from ‘the people’. He argues that there is an inherent risk of democracy turning into totalitarianism, which can be accommodated for if a symbolic representation of the identity of the people is created that can allow for substantive differences. Based on the theories of Habermas and Mouffe, this thesis aimed to determine how the we must think about this identity-shaping process. The conclusion is twofold. On the one hand, an analysis of Habermas’ theory of deliberative democracy shows that his focus on rationality results in a substantial image and a totalitarian conception of the identity of the people. On the other hand, an analysis of Mouffe’s theory of agonistic pluralism shows that a shared recognition of unsolvable conflict does offer a symbolic legitimation of power that can accommodate for the risk of totalitarianism.

identity

democracy

totalitarianism

Author

Buijs, Robin

Faculty

Faculty of Social & Behavioural Sciences

Specialisation

Political Theory: Legitimacy and Justice

Supervisors

Doornenbal, J.D.

ECTS Credits

20

Language

en