Finding the middle way: the formation of democracy and the conflict of authority and autonomy

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Author
Civelek, Mert
Advisor
Vinx, Lars
Date
2018-06Publisher
Bilkent University
Language
English
Type
Thesis
Metadata
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http://hdl.handle.net/11693/47607Abstract
This thesis aims to find a place where in the conflict of autonomy and authority there
is a place for a democratic state to exist. The possibility of a democratic state that
could have legitimate authority over its subjects is through consent of the subjects. I
claim that individuals in a given neutral state in which there is no sign of a political
body that has legitimate authority, will form a body that carries properties of a democratic
state. I argue that if there is a possibility for the subjects to refrain from
democratic participation, democratic participation can be considered as a way of expressing
consent that would enable the state hold legitimate power and impose institutional
obligations to its subjects.