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This book discusses whether democracy and republicanism are identical, complementary, or contradicting ideas. The rediscovery of classic republicanism a few decades ago made it clear how profoundly modern notions of democracy had been shaped by the republican tradition. But defining these two concepts remains difficult, and the views diverge widely. The overarching aim of this book is to discuss the extent to which democracy and republicanism are identical, complementary or mutually contradicting ideals / ideas. Pursuing this open approach to the subject means calling into question a widely used formula according to which modern democracy is composed of liberal principles such as individualism, the rule of law and human rights, on the one hand, and of republican principles such as focusing on the common good and popular sovereignty, on the other. This book will appeal to students, researches, and scholars of political science interested in a better understanding of politicaltheory and political history.
List of contents
Chapter 1. Republicanism and democracy. An introduction (Skadi Siiri Krause).- Chapter 2. Considerations on Machiavelli: Alibis, Evasions, and Counter-Provocations (John P. McCormick).- Chapter 3. The democratic impulse in the English Revolution (Skadi Siiri Krause).- Chapter 4. The possibility of democratic republicanism: the Levellers, Milton, and Harrington (Rachel Foxley).- Chapter 5. Democracy in Algernon Sidney's Discourses Concerning Government (Thomas Ashby).- Chapter 6. The democratic moment in the American Revolution (Skadi Siiri Krause).- Chapter 7. The American Founding: from democratic to aristocratic republicanism (Philip Dingeldey).- Chapter 8. Democracy and democratic reform impulses before the French Revolution (Skadi Siiri Krause).- Chapter 9. Democratic Republicanism in the French Revolution (Nadia Urbinati).- Chapter 10. Republicanism, Democracy and History.
About the author
Dr. Skadi Siiri Krause, Research Associate at the Technical University of Darmstadt, Germany, is known for her work on the political history of ideas in France.
Dr. Dirk Jörke, Professor of Political Theory at the Technical University of Darmstadt, Germany, focuses on contemporary interpretations of the concept of democracy.
