A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal
Good and Bad Political Compromises
Authors: Räikkä, Juha
Publisher: Wiley
Publication year: 2026
Journal: Ratio
ISSN: 0034-0006
eISSN: 1467-9329
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/rati.70018
Publication's open availability at the time of reporting: Open Access
Publication channel's open availability : Partially Open Access publication channel
Web address : https://doi.org/10.1111/rati.70018
Self-archived copy’s web address: https://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/509033115
Self-archived copy's licence: CC BY NC ND
Self-archived copy's version: Publisher`s PDF
Political compromises are common. Parties that seek to influence society must inevitably make them. Populists often criticize such compromises, as compromising implies that an ideal outcome will not be achieved. In general, political compromises evoke strong emotions, particularly when they are perceived as problematic—morally or otherwise. In this paper, I will examine whether the moral norms that govern compromise are specific to it. I evaluate Fabian Wendt's view that “deontic restrictions”—limits on what we are morally permitted to do—are not specific to the morality of compromise. I offer critical remarks on Wendt's argument, though I do not claim that his position fails. However, I argue that there is a sense in which the rules of compromise are specific. When compromises are regarded as morally bad, certain moral norms play a particularly prominent role. These norms are more frequently invoked than others and, in this respect, function as specific rules that mark the limits of compromise.
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Funding information in the publication:
The author has nothing to report. Open access publishing facilitated by Turun yliopisto, as part of the Wiley - FinELib agreement.