The Conceptualisation Of “Individual” And “Collective” In Democracy Research

What is the role of individuals (collectives) in democratic research? Are they viewed as the creators of concepts, or are they merely the subjects of scientific observation? Do they serve as agents of change, or are they passive actors influenced by societal processes? This study explores how the individual and collective are conceptualised in democratic research and examines whether this understanding limits our perception of their roles. Through an analysis of the literature on deliberative and participatory democracy, I argue that the representation of individuals and collectives is often overly constrained, hindering our ability to imagine innovative research methodologies. A significant concern lies in the perpetuation of liberal narratives surrounding these concepts, reinforced by a rigid dichotomy between individual and collective. Moreover, these concepts are often defined through other binary distinctions, such as human and non-human, unity and multiplicity, particular and universal, communication and non-communication. While more inclusive conceptualisations do exist, they are not well integrated into the field. Consequently, this paper underscores the need to redefine the concepts of individual and collective in order to foster more inclusive democracy research. The author proposes a framework that envisions the individual and collective as a continuum where diverse understandings of the concepts can emerge and guide future democracy research. While this study focuses on a specific subset of scholarship, its critical analysis enriches the discussion regarding the validity of academic definitions, particularly those pertaining to democracy and the various paradigms of democracy research. Moreover, this examination continues as part of a broader inquiry into the use of specific dualistic distinctions, such as individual/collective, social/political, and unity/plurality, within democratic theory and related disciplines.