Passion for Democracy - American Essays

Benjamin Barber is one of America's preeminent political theorists. He has been a significant voice in the continuing debate about the nature and role of democracy in the contemporary world. A Passion for Democracy collects twenty of his most important writings on American democracy. Together they refine his distinctive position in democratic theory. Barber's conception of "strong democracy" contrasts with traditional concepts of "liberal democracy," especially in its emphasis on citizen participation in central issues of public debate. These essays critique the "thin representation" of liberal democracy and buttress the arguments presented in Barber's twelve books, most recently in his well-received Jihad vs. McWorld: How Globalism and Tribalism Are Re-shaping the World. In these pieces, Barber argues for participatory democracy without dependence on abstract metaphysical foundations, and he stresses the relationship among democracy and civil society, civic education, and culture.


A Passion for Democracy is divided into four sections. In the first, "American Theory: Democracy, Liberalism, and Rights," Barber addresses issues of ongoing relevance to today's debates about the roots of participatory democracy, including individualism vs. community, the importance of consent, and the irrelevance of Marxism. Essays in the second section, "American Practice: Leadership, Citizenship, and Censorship" provide a "strong democracy" critique of American democratic practice. "Education for Democracy: Civic Education, Service, and Citizenship" applies Barber's theories to three related topics and includes his much-discussed essay "America Skips School." The final section, "Democracy and Technology: Endless Frontier or End of Democracy?" provides glimpses into a future that technology alone cannot secure for democracy.

In his preface, Barber writes: "In these essays ... I have been hard on my country. Like most ardent democrats, I want more for it than it has achieved, despite the fact that it has achieved more than most people have dared to want." This wide-ranging collection displays not only his passion for democracy, but also his unique perspective on issues of abiding importance for the democratic process.

List of contents

Preface Ch. 2Foundationalism and Democracy Ch. 3Why Democracy Must Be Liberal: An Epitaph for Marxism Ch. 4The Compromised Republic: Public Purposelessness in America Ch. 5The Rights of We the People Are All the Rights There Are Ch. 6Have Rights Gone Wrong? The Reconstruction of Rights Pt. IIAmerican Practice: Leadership, Citizenship, and Censorship Ch. 8Command Performance: Where Have All the Leaders Gone? Ch. 9The Undemocratic Party System: Citizenship in an Elite/Mass Society Ch. 10One Nation Indivisible or a Compact of Sovereign States? The Two Faces of Federalism Ch. 11The Market as Censor in a World of Consumer Totalism Pt. IIIEducation for Democracy: Civic Education, Service, and Citizenship Ch. 13The Civic Mission of the University Ch. 14Service, Citizenship, and Democracy: Civic Duty as an Entailment of Civil Right Ch. 15Cultural Conservatism and Democratic Education: Lessons from the Sixties Ch. 16America Skips School: Why We Talk So Much about Education and Do So Little Ch. 17Education for Democracy Pt. IVDemocracy and Technology: Endless Frontier or End of Democracy? Ch. 19Pangloss, Pandora, or Jefferson? Three Scenarios for the Future of Technology and Democracy Ch. 20The New Telecommunications Technology: Endless Frontier or the End of Democracy? Index

About the author

Benjamin R. Barber

Summary

Benjamin Barber is one of America's preeminent political theorists. He has been a significant voice in the continuing debate about the nature and role of democracy in the contemporary world. A Passion for Democracy collects twenty of his most important writings on American democracy. Together they refine his distinctive position in democratic theory. Barber's conception of "strong democracy" contrasts with traditional concepts of "liberal democracy," especially in its emphasis on citizen participation in central issues of public debate. These essays critique the "thin representation" of liberal democracy and buttress the arguments presented in Barber's twelve books, most recently in his well-received Jihad vs. McWorld: How Globalism and Tribalism Are Re-shaping the World. In these pieces, Barber argues for participatory democracy without dependence on abstract metaphysical foundations, and he stresses the relationship among democracy and civil society, civic education, and culture.

A Passion for Democracy is divided into four sections. In the first, "American Theory: Democracy, Liberalism, and Rights," Barber addresses issues of ongoing relevance to today's debates about the roots of participatory democracy, including individualism vs. community, the importance of consent, and the irrelevance of Marxism. Essays in the second section, "American Practice: Leadership, Citizenship, and Censorship" provide a "strong democracy" critique of American democratic practice. "Education for Democracy: Civic Education, Service, and Citizenship" applies Barber's theories to three related topics and includes his much-discussed essay "America Skips School." The final section, "Democracy and Technology: Endless Frontier or End of Democracy?" provides glimpses into a future that technology alone cannot secure for democracy.

In his preface, Barber writes: "In these essays ... I have been hard on my country. Like most ardent democrats, I want more for it than it has achieved, despite the fact that it has achieved more than most people have dared to want." This wide-ranging collection displays not only his passion for democracy, but also his unique perspective on issues of abiding importance for the democratic process.

Additional text

"The essays in A Passion for Democracy offer nuggets of keen historical insight and every so often connect with a sharp dart to the complacent regions of liberal capitalism. . . . It doesn't hurt that, in an arena in which turgid, jargon-ridden prose is the rule, Barber can spin a phrase with the dexterity of Derek Jeter turning a double-play at second base."---Loren Lomasky, Reason

Product details

• Authors: Benjamin Barber, Benjamin R. Barber
• Publisher: Princeton University Press
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 02.04.2000
• EAN: 9780691050249
• ISBN: 978-0-691-05024-9
• No. of pages: 320
• Subjects: Non-fiction book > Philosophy, religion > Philosophy: general, reference works; Social sciences, law, business > Political science > Political system; USA, POLITICAL SCIENCE / Political Process / General, POLITICAL SCIENCE / Political Ideologies / Democracy, Political structures: democracy, United States of America, USA