Reconceptualizing democratic innovation:

the role of social movements and their imaginaries

Abstract

Democratic innovation is seen by scholars as one means through which the multiple crises of democracy can be addressed.  The literature on democratic innovation has yet to adequately interrogate the role of social movements, and more specifically movement democratic imaginaries, in innovation, nor has it considered the specific mechanisms through which movements translate democratic imaginaries and practices into innovation. Drawing on insights from research on social movements in times of crisis, this article provides a preliminary roadmap for methodological and conceptual innovation in our understanding of the role of social movements in democratic innovation, making a contribution to the fields of democracy and social movements. It introduces the concept of democratic innovation repertoires and argues that a) we need to broaden our conceptualization and analysis of democratic innovation to encompass the role of social movements in democratic innovation, and b) we need to understand how the relationship between democratic movement imaginaries and the praxis that movements develop in their quest to “save” or strengthen democracy can shape  democratic innovation beyond movement arenas after mobilizing “events” have passed.