Democracy in Question: Democratic Openness in a Time of Political ClosureThis book explores the theoretical paradoxes and practical dilemmas that flow from the still radical idea that in a democracy it is the people who rule, and argues that accepting the open and uncertain character of democratic politics can lead to more sustainable and widespread forms of democratic engagement. The author engages theorists from a range of democratic thought Rousseau, Arendt, Benhabib, Sandel, Laclau, and Mouffe to show how each either ignores or downplays the difficulties that democratic principles pose. Though there can be no entirely valid solution to the paradoxes that plague democracy, the author nonetheless argues that democratic politics particularly under contemporary conditions of social fragmentation and insecurity urgently requires new practical and rhetorical strategies. The book concludes by addressing the American context, elaborating the need for a language of democratic engagement less ensnared in the anti-political logic of moralism and resentment that now characterizes the American political spectrum. |
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Democracy in Question: Democratic Openness in a Time of Political Closure Alan Keenan No preview available - 2003 |
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accept achieve affirmation American analysis Arendt argument articulation autonomy Benhabib Castoriadis challenge Chantal Mouffe chapter citizens civic virtue claims Claude Lefort closure conflict Connolly constitutive contestation contingency critical critique cynicism debate decisions deliberation deliberative democracy demands demo democ democracy's democratic legitimacy democratic openness democratic politics difficulties dilemmas discourse discourse ethics effective Ernesto Laclau ethical existence experience force form of democratic fully fundamental ground Hannah Arendt hegemony ical ideal iden identifications individual institutions Laclau and Mouffe liberal liberty and equality limited logic means Michael Sandel moral Mouffe's mutual promise nature nonetheless ocratic one's paradox particular people's percent plural democracy political action political community political freedom political realm possible practice principles procedures question radical and plural radical democratic rational republican requires respect responsibility Revolution Rousseau rule Sandel sense Seyla Benhabib social contract specific strategies struggles tension theory tion vicious circle violence vision