Reclaiming Egalitarianism in the Political Theory of Campaign Finance Reform

62 Pages Posted: 20 Mar 2008

See all articles by Frank Pasquale

Frank Pasquale

Cornell Law School; Cornell Tech

Abstract

Recent advocacy for campaign finance reform has been based on an ideal of the democratic process which is unrealistic and unhelpful. Scholars should instead return to its egalitarian roots. This article examines how deliberative democratic theory became the main justification for campaign finance reform. It exposes the shortcomings of this deliberativist detour and instead models campaign spending as an effort to commodify issue-salience. Given this dominant function of money in politics, a more effective paradigm for reform is equalizing influence. Advocates of campaign regulation should return to the original principles of reformers; not an idealized vision of the democratic process, but pragmatic concerns about moneyed interests acquiring too much influence over the nation's politics.

Keywords: campaign finance, egalitarianism, political theory, Rawls, deliberative democracy, politics

Suggested Citation

Pasquale, Frank A., Reclaiming Egalitarianism in the Political Theory of Campaign Finance Reform. University of Illinois Law Review, Vol. 2008, No. 2, 2008, Seton Hall Law School Public Law and Legal Theory Research Paper No. 1111566, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1111566

Frank A. Pasquale (Contact Author)

Cornell Law School ( email )

Myron Taylor Hall
Ithaca, NY 14853

Cornell Tech ( email )

111 8th Avenue #302
New York, NY 10011
United States

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