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UBC Theses and Dissertations

The all-affected interests principle : a relational approach Smith, Cole Jacob

Abstract

In this paper, I offer a defence of the all-affected interests principle based largely on an interpretation offered by Mark Warren (2017a). Problematizing the democratic boundary problem and arguing in favour of a relational account of affectedness based on essential interests, I argue that the principle admits a tremendous diversity in its potential applications, and that what it requires primarily are participatory practices governing relationships of interdependency. In the second half of the paper, I discuss this with particular reference to environmental and land governance issues, and watersheds specifically. Because these cases often involve situations where coercive political structures either do not exist, or are poorly configured to respond to the interests of residents in an affected environment, I suggest that the AAIP is best positioned to give a positive account of democratic self-governance. I highlight the case of the Cowichan Watershed Board as an emerging institution illustrating a potential application of the AAIP.

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Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International