agonisme

Agonisme, or agonism, is a concept in political theory that treats political life as inherently conflictual. It argues that disagreement among citizens is not a sign of pathology but a constitutive element of democracy, which should be acknowledged and managed through institutionalized contestation rather than attempts to reach universal consensus.

Origins and core ideas: The term derives from the Greek agón, meaning contest or struggle. A central claim is that political opponents—adversaries rather than enemies—have a legitimate stake in politics and possess equal rights to participate in public life. The aim is not to eradicate disagreement but to channel it within public institutions, debate, and normative rules that organize conflict into lawful procedures and political competition. Democratic politics is seen as a continual process of forming and reforming identities around antagonistic but bounded differences, with the goal of preventing violence and coercion.

Applications and criticisms: Agonisme has influenced debates on how to design robust democratic institutions, including pluralist public spheres, electoral competition, and civil society engagement. Critics argue that sustained agonism can normalize perpetual conflict or marginalize groups, and that it may legitimize extreme positions as legitimate opponents. Proponents respond that a well-ordered agonistic system clarifies the distinction between acceptable political disagreement and coercion, while preserving pluralism.

See also: agonistic democracy, liberalism, adversaries, Mouffe, Laclau, pluralism.