Democracy's Time Constraints

The present article explores a series of time issues that have been largely ignored in democratic theory. It begins with discussing a defining feature of democratic rule: its temporal delimitation. Democracy is government pro tempore. Parting from this core assumption, the article discusses, among other things temporal, the timing of elections; the time requirements of efficient and accountable government; the interaction of electoral cycles at different levels and their interference with other societal cycles; the democratic ambivalence of term limits; the time scarcities of both politicians and citizens; the temporal logics of direct democracy; the value of governmental stability; and the complexities of generational renewal. The article concludes with some reflections on some neglected themes and pending challenges.