Chantal Mouffe and the agonistic model of democracy: a critical commentary

Abstract

This article initially seeks to outline in broad terms the “agonistic model of democracy”, a theory of democracy developed and named as such by the philosopher Chantal Mouffe. The thinker characterizes this conception of democracy as radical and plural, attributing to it both the purpose and
the capacity to challange prevailing relations of domination in contemporary society. The article then
proceeds to identify and enumerate elements within the agonistic model that are considered obstacles,
or even features that run counter to the very objectives the the model claims to pursue. In this second part, priority is given to the author's writings from the 21st century, on the grounds that the works of this period render more explicit the limitations of Mouffe’s intellectual project and its possible unintended consequences, namely, the risk that, instead of combating relations of domination, it may end up favoring their perpetuation.