Democracy In Moderation

A rediscovery of Montesquieu's legacy in shaping America's complex political order including influence on Washington's practical moderation.

A rediscovery of Montesquieu's legacy in shaping America's complex political order including influence on Washington's practical moderation.

This book charts the varieties of political moderation in modern European history from the French Revolution to the present day. It explores the attempts to find a middle way between ideological extremes, from the nineteenth-century Juste Milieu and balance of power, via the Third Ways between capitalism and socialism, to the current calls for moderation beyond populism and religious radicalism. The essays in this volume are inspired by the widely-recognized need for a more nuanced political discourse. The contributors demonstrate how the history of modern politics offers a range of experiences and examples of the search for a middle way that can help us to navigate the tensions of the current political climate. At the same time, the volume offers a diagnosis of the problems and pitfalls of Third Ways, of finding the middle between extremes, and of the weaknesses of the moderate point of view.

Leading scholars and legal practitioners explore constitutional, legal, and philosophical topics. In Constitutionalism, Executive Power, and the Spirit of Moderation, contributors ranging from scholars to practitioners in the federal executive and judicial branches blend philosophical and political modes of analysis to examine a variety of constitutional, legal, and philosophical topics. Part 1, “The Role of Courts in Constitutional Democracy,” analyzes the proper functions and limits of the judiciary and judicial decision making in constitutional government. Part 2, “Law and Executive Authority,” reflects on the tensions between constitutionalism and presidential leadership in both domestic and international arenas. Part 3, “Liberal Education, Constitutionalism, and Philosophic Moderation,” shifts the focus to the relationship between constitutionalism and political philosophy, and especially to the modern modes of philosophy that most directly influenced the American Founders. A valuable resource for specialists, the book also will be of use in political science and law school classes.

In an age seemingly characterized by polarizing culture wars, political and religious extremism, and increasing economic and social inequities, just what is the definition of 'moderation' these day? And what might a reasoned contemporary programme of moderation look like - intellectually, politically, and in practice? Despite its importance to public policy debates, the field of sociology has been surprisingly reticent in its coverage of the concept of moderation in recent years. Sociologies of Moderation corrects this oversight through a series of original papers that probe the sociological origins, intellectual foundations, and contemporary relevance of mderation in 21st-century politics, religion, and society. Featuring contributions from top sociologists, social theorists, and emerging scholars working in the US, Great Britain, and beyond, the papers in this special supplement of The Sociological Review collectively argue for a sociological reappraisal of the intellectual foundations and contemporary salience of moderation. Drawing in part on the American pragmatist tradition, and backed by the latest cutting-edge empirical evidence, their findings suggest that moderation is better grasped as a disciplined engagement with deeply divided publics in a variety of socio-cultural contexts. Throught-provoking and timely, Sociologies of Moderation provides a wealth of enlightening insights into what the pursuit of moderation would look like in our increasingly immoderate world.

Publisher description

A state-of-the-art account of what we know and do not know about the effects of digital technology on democracy.