UNCORRECTED PROOF Original Article Rationality and deliberative democracy: A constructive critique of John Dryzek’s democratic theory Adrian Blau Politics, School of Social Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK. E-mail: adrian.blau@manchester.ac.uk Q1 Abstract John Dryzek’s justification of deliberative democracy rests on a critique of instrumental rationality and a defence of Habermas’s idea of communicative rationality. I question each stage of Dryzek’s theory. It defines instrumental rationality broadly but only criticises narrow applications of it. It conflates com- municative rationality with Habermas’s idea of ‘discourse’ – the real motor of Dryzek’s democratic theory. Deliberative democracy can be better defended by avoiding overstated criticisms of instrumental rationality, by altering the emphasis on communicative rationality, and by focusing more on different models of politics than different models of rationality. Dryzek’s theory can thus present deliberative democracy as a better means to better ends – a more powerful and more positive position. Contemporary Political Theory (2010) 0, 000–000. doi:10.1057/cpt.2010.3 Keywords: communicative rationality; critical theory; deliberative democracy; democracy; Habermas; instrumental rationality Introduction This Q2 article is a constructive critique of John Dryzek’s democratic theory – ‘discursive democracy’. Dryzek is a prominent exponent of Habermas and an influential deliberative democrat. Using Habermas’s ideas, Dryzek attacks elitist politics and defends deliberative policy making by citizens. This argu- ment is very important: too often, we treat ‘public policy’ as something done for but not by the public. However, discursive democracy is weakened by its account of rationality. Dryzek’s theory links elitist politics to instrumental rationality, and delibera- tive democracy to ‘communicative rationality’. In my opinion, this critique of r 2010 Macmillan Publishers Ltd. 1470-8914 Contemporary Political Theory Vol. 0, 0, 1–21 www.palgrave-journals.com/cpt/