Abstract
The paper analyses the possibility of formulating a normative theory of democracy that would respond to the criticisms raised by the political realism tradition against concepts based on the ideal theory. The author presents two approaches that may be considered as meeting the criteria of political realism: plebeian democracy and prefigurative politics. To assess the extent to which these proposals address realist critiques, the author focuses on political legitimacy, the distribution of power, and the challenges posed by participatory and deliberative practices.
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