Representing Silence in Politics

Democratic representation focuses on voice: it conceives voice as that which is represented and as the prime mode of representing. This article argues that this focus is problematic and turns instead to silence to ask a fundamental question: Can representation empower citizens from their silent posi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The American political science review 2020-11, Vol.114 (4), p.976-988
Main Author: BRITO VIEIRA, MÓNICA
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Concept formation
Constituents
Criteria
Dominance
Empowerment
Legitimacy
Linguistics
Participation
Political parties
Political representation
Political science
Politics
Representation
Speaking
Speech
Statistical Data
Voting
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Summary:Democratic representation focuses on voice: it conceives voice as that which is represented and as the prime mode of representing. This article argues that this focus is problematic and turns instead to silence to ask a fundamental question: Can representation empower citizens from their silent positions? I approach the question in three parts. First, I offer a new conceptualization of silence, arguing that silence is best understood as the site of a potential or actual presence. Second, I use criteria of domination and displaced involvement to assess attempts to enfranchise silence within the transmission-belt model of representation. Third, I critically engage and strengthen constructivist views of representation by developing these criteria to assess the legitimacy of claims to represent—speak about and for—silent constituencies—namely, the claim to represent an (alleged) silent majority.
ISSN:0003-0554
1537-5943
DOI:10.1017/S000305542000043X