Sacrificar la libertad en nombre de la libertad. Reflexiones en torno a las críticas posmodernas a la democracia liberal

Abstract

In this paper, we will justify that, although many of the critiques formulated by postmodern progressivism regarding the way liberalism addresses the political are valid, politicizing passions and the private sphere of citizens –the main goal of radical democracy advocated by Mouffe– entails a great danger, namely, the emergence of a moralizing state. The roadmap we have outlined to justify our hypothesis is as follows: we will begin by explaining, in broad terms, the political and legal arguments upon which the liberal model is built (I). Next, we will review the critiques postmodern progressivism makes against this model (II). Finally, we will justify our hypothesis, namely, that a democracy in which passions and private life are politicized creates the conditions for the emergence of a moralizing state (III).