Discursive Designs: Critical Theory and Political Institutions

Critical theory faces frequent charges of excessive abstraction, aridity, and political irrelevance. This paper seeks to counter such claims by developing a critical theory program for political organization, linking social theory, epistemology, and institutions. The elements demanded of such a program are identified through reference to the moves successfully accomplished in similar pursuit by critical theory's more established and accepted competitor, Popperian critical rationalism. A comparison of the capabilities of the practices and institutions inspired by the two programs adds further weight to critical theory's claims.