Envisioning Democracy New Essays Aftehb

Few terms elicit such strong and varied feelings and yet have so little clarity as "democracy." Leaders of large states use "democracy" to designate their nations’ public character even as critics and rivals use the term to validate their own political perspectives. In Envisioning Democracy, the editors and contributors address the following questions: What does democracy mean today? What could it mean tomorrow? What is the dynamic of democracy in an increasingly interdependent world? Envisioning Democracy explores these questions amid the dynamic of democracy as a political phenomenon interacting with forms of economic, ethical, ethnic, and intellectual life. The book draws on the work of Sheldon S. Wolin (1922–2015), one of the most influential American theorists of the last fifty years. Here, scholars consider the historical conditions, theoretical elements, and practical impediments to democracy, using Wolin’s insights as touchstones in thinking through the possibilities and obstacles facing democracy now and in the future.

Drawing on the thought of Sheldon Wolin, a major American political theorist, this collection presents fresh understandings of contemporary democracy.

"There is no political term today that has a greater cachet and so little clarity than democracy. Leaders of large states use it to designate their nations' public character, while it is also used by critics of leaders calling themselves "democratic" to spearhead their calls for political reforms. In Envisioning Democracy, Terry Maley and John R. Wallach address the following key questions: What does democracy mean today? What could it mean tomorrow? What is the dynamic of democracy, especially in an increasingly interdependent world of growing inequality, that can be captured by authoritarian populist leaders? Envisioning Democracy explores these questions amid the dynamic of democracy as a political phenomenon interacting with forms of economic, ethical, and intellectual life. The book draws on the thought of one of America's greatest writers on democracy in the last fifty years, Sheldon S. Wolin (1922-2015). In this collection, scholars consider the historical conditions, theoretical elements, and practical impediments to democracy, relying on Wolin's insights as touchstones in thinking through what democracy means now and what it could mean in the future. Envisioning Democracy presents new perspectives on longstanding, current, and future issues surrounding democracy and liberalism in political theory."--