Kant’s principle of publicity, global governance, and international negotiations: some aporias and misunderstandings

This article examines the contemporary use of the Kantian concept of publicity in studies promoting greater transparency in global governance. It argues that these studies tend to overlook the growing role of negotiations in global governance and their increased influence on domestic policies, despite being an inherently opaque decisional mode (as opposed to deliberation). This first aporia is complemented by a second, which is that there are valid arguments in favor of secret negotiations despite increased demands for greater openness in international negotiations. Additionally, contemporary studies of global governance that refer to Kant’s concept of publicity as a precursor to public transparency requests overlook the plurality of Kant’s concept. The article distinguishes the various concepts of publicity found in Kant’s writings. This analysis reveals that while Kant’s notion of publicity entails a universalization of the individual perspective, recent studies highlight a conception of publicity that entails the inclusion of a plurality of specific points of view. Thus, the article highlights some contemporary misunderstandings of Kant’s legacy.