Relational Equality and the Parallel Case for Workplace Democracy

Abstract This paper investigates whether a relational egalitarian defense of democracy at the state level can ground a parallel case argument for workplace democracy. I argue that it can in two ways. First, I evaluate the arguments of a prominent relational egalitarian (Niko Kolodny) who believes it cannot and show that his arguments are mistaken in ways that lead him to underestimate the strength of the parallel case. Second, I develop a positive model of the connection between relational equality and democracy – the proportionality model – that clearly and strongly supports the case for democracy at the state and workplace levels.