The minimal definition of democracy by Norberto Bobbio (revisited)

This article is for the purpose of analyzing in detail the minimal definition of democracy by Norberto Bobbio, his constitutive elements, his principal characteristics and his conceptual limits, above all his pretensions of universality, univocity and neutrality, critically focusing on these last three elements in order to stress the bobbian definition of democracy. We will begin by analyzing the procedural character of this definition. Next, each of the elements that characterize it will be broken down in detail, emphasizing the assumption and priority of freedom. Finally, a series of objections will be indicated that would hinder the claims of universality, univocity and neutrality, thus stressing the theoretical intention of the Italian philosopher. Methodologically speaking, this would be a descriptive and systematic analysis, neither a prescriptive nor an axiological one.