This essay brings together two contemporary literatures: theories of pluralism that focus our attention on inequality between groups and theories of that emphasize its multiple and constructed character. I use these debates to construct a lens through which to analyze the institutional representation of disadvantaged groups. Group is orchestrated and produced in part through political institutional processes; thus attempts at democratic reform have to address normative questions about what forms of citizenship should be produced and enabled by representative institutions. I argue that representative reforms must take into account multiple forms of political collectivity and provide political space for citizens to deliberate about the effects of social structures on their lives and identities. Democratic theorists cannot treat group as fixed, but neither can we dismiss identity politics. Guinier's (1994) model enables a multiple and variegated citizen identity, encourages coalitions between groups, and has the potential to engender citizen action beyond the electoral moment.
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Susan Bickford (1999) studied this question.