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Cited by 533Political Theory and DemocracyPolitical Philosophy and EthicsGender Politics and Representation

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Voice, Trust, and Memory: Marginalized Groups and the Failings of Liberal Representation

Williams, Melissa S.·1998·Princeton University Press eBooks
DOI 10.1515/9781400822782
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Abstract

Does fair political representation for historically disadvantaged groups require their presence in legislative bodies? The intuition that women are best represented by women, and African-Americans by other African-Americans, has deep historical roots. Yet the conception of fair representation that prevails in American political culture and jurisprudence--what Melissa Williams calls "liberal representation"--concludes that the social identity of legislative representatives does not bear on their quality as representatives. Liberal representation's slogan, "one person, one vote," concludes that the outcome of the electoral and legislative process is fair, whatever it happens to be, so long as no voter is systematically excluded. Challenging this notion, Williams maintains that fair representation is powerfully affected by the identity of legislators and whether some of them are actually members of the historically marginalized groups that are most in need of protection in our society. Williams argues first that the distinctive voice of these groups should be audible within the legislative process. Second, she holds that the self-representation of these groups is necessary to sustain their trust in democratic institutions. The memory of state-sponsored discrimination against these groups, together with ongoing patterns of inequality along group lines, provides both a reason to recognize group claims and a way of distinguishing stronger from weaker claims. The book closes by proposing institutions that can secure fair representation for marginalized groups without compromising principles of democratic freedom and equality.

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Metadata

Authors
Williams, M. S.
Corresponding author
Williams, Melissa S.
Venue
Princeton University Press eBooks
Publisher
Princeton University Press
Published
1998-12-31
DOI
10.1515/9781400822782
OpenAlex
W4312375731
Cited by
533
References
0
Citations by year
2026: 8 · 2025: 25 · 2024: 53 · 2023: 25 · 2022: 28 · 2021: 18 · 2020: 15 · 2019: 44 · 2018: 24 · 2017: 17 · 2016: 13 · 2015: 19 · 2014: 19 · 2013: 21 · 2012: 8
FWCI
11.50
Type
book
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
Princeton University Press eBooks (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Political Science and International Relations › Political Theory and Democracy
  • Social Sciences › Political Science and International Relations › Political Philosophy and Ethics
  • Social Sciences › Gender Studies › Gender Politics and Representation
Keywords
women legislators, African American legislators, self-representation, trust in democratic institutions, one person one vote, minority political participation, democratic equality, representation of marginalized groups

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