Centripetal Representation

This article develops a general theory about how representative systems might best promote democratic legitimacy – one that recognizes the potential benefits of networked responsiveness between diverse kinds but is alert to threat fragmentation and value simplicity. Deliberative constructivist theorists representation tend agree more pluralistic are democratic. I will argue, however, can bias toward elites simplifications help ordinary people engage with, understand, influence their representatives, pushing back against gridlock, collusion, capture by powerful. Systems most likely pluralism heterogeneity while avoiding when structure “centripetal”: with power moving inwards, via processes responsiveness, from broadly inclusive peripheries democratically simple cores.