Does Homelessness Undermine Democracy? The Role of 'Home' in Democratic Citizenship - A project outline.

*image by John D'oh.
Supervisor: Dr Lewis Mates
Background:
Homelessness is traditionally seen as an issue caused by the individual, whether that be through poor luck, or poor choices (Arnold, 2004: p2). Notions of the harms of homelessness rarely extend past concerns of the homeless person's welfare, and when they do, they fixate upon perceptions of crime and anti-social behaviour. Through my research, I aim to challenge this perception of homelessness by looking at homelessness through the lens of democratic legitimacy. The core objective of my research is thus to analyze whether homelessness undermines our claims to be a democratic society.
To achieve the main objective of my research, I will need to address several points in a strict manner.
Methodology:
1) The relationship between the governor and governed in democracy; what is a democratic citizen?
Democracy is definitionally ambiguous, and as such, its minimum parameters and core elements are prone to amorphousness and shifts (Fierlbeck, 2008: p38). This is to say that there is no clear and universally agreed upon conception of democracy, and as such there isn't a set democratic rule book or measuring stick.
I will limit the scope of this project to the standard and most universally agreed upon definition of democracy; as consisting of a family of institutions (free and fair elections etc.), political values (liberty etc.), and a suitable political context (adequate information, education, certain limits on social relations etc.), which ensure the accountability of the governors by the governed (Fierlbeck, 2008:p39) (see, e.g., Dahl, 1989; Dahl & Shapiro, 2020; Lipset, 1959; Cohen, 1971). This allows us to understand what it means to be a democratic citizen.
2) What is the significance of the 'home' in democracy?
I will define 'home', considering the literature surrounding cultural, social and economic capital (Bourdieu, 2010). This will help me produce a definition of 'home' which is relevant to modern western democracies such as the UK, USA, Germany etc., and to what it means to be homeless in these societies.
To assess the significance of the 'home' in democracy, I will engage in the current debate of power and democracy; what is the legitimate scope of democracy considering the contemporary analysis of power? what role does the 'home' play in determining levels of democratic citizenship?
This will essentially assess the impact that not having a 'home' has on a member of a democracy. I will focus on impacts relevant to the central characteristics of democracy.
3) Is homelessness compatible with democracy?
Many human relations are seen as incompatible with democracy; slavery, arbitrary removal of voting powers, and other bans from political engagement. I will bring together the previous two analyses: that of the concept of democracy, its requirements, characteristics, and institutions, with the role of the ‘home’ in western societies. From this I will derive a theoretical analysis of the compatibility of homelessness and democracy, and comment on whether claims of democratic governance are undermined by the existence of homeless populations.
The outcome of this research will be a paper and poster. Please do get in touch if you have any questions, ideas, comments, or advice.
References
Arnold, K. R., 2004. Homelessness, Citizenship, and Identity: The Uncanniness of Late Modernity. Albany: State University of New York Press.
Bourdieu, P., 2010 (First published 1979). Distinction: a social critique of the judgement of taste. London: Routledge
Cohen, C., 1971. Democracy. The University of Georgia Press
Dahl, R. A., 1989. Democracy and its Critics. New Haven: Yale University Press
Dahl, R. A. & Shapiro., 2020. On Democracy. New Haven ; London, England : Yale University Press.
Fierlbeck, K., 2008. Globalizing Democracy: Power, Legitimacy and the interpretation of democratic ideas. Manchester: Manchester University Press.
Lipset, S. M., 1959. Some social requisites of democracy, economic development and political legitimacy. American Political Science Review, Vol. 53, No. 1, 69-105
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