Imagining Democracy and Justice

Ruha Benjamin – Whose Imagination? Overview and Main Ideas Ruha Benjamin argues

that imagination is a political force that shapes who democracy works for.

The stories society tells about race, intelligence, danger, and value determine

who is protected and who is excluded. She shows that inequality is not only produced by laws or institutions

but also by cultural narratives that make hierarchy seem natural. Even systems that

appear neutral can reinforce injustice. Benjamin emphasizes that democracy fails when certain groups

are imagined as disposable or less human, even if formal rights exist.

Key Concepts and Arguments · Controlling images that stereotype marginalized groups