Crisi della democrazia e Stato di diritto in Danilo Zolo

The essay focuses on Danilo Zolo’s contribution to democratic theory. Zolo’s analysis of democracy is rooted in the features of social complexity. The increasing complexity of contemporary society has made the promises of democracy unfulfilled. Zolo adopts the program of political realism. He assumes that it is impossible to attribute an autonomous meaning to the universe of normative discourse. But there is a relationship between democracy and law. The rule of law is aimed at the protection of the individuals. It presupposes that power can be exercised and controlled through law. The constitutional limits on power, a key feature of liberal democracy, require adherence to the rule of law.