A dramatic and necessary rethinking of the meaning of Democracy Democratic Anarchy grapples with an uncomfortable but obvious truth inimical to democracy: both aesthetics and politics depend on the structuring antagonism of inclusion and exclusion. Yet in Democratic Anarchy, Matthew Scully asks, how can “the people” be represented in a way that acknowledges what remains unrepresentable? What would it mean to face up to the constitutive exclusions that haunt U.S. democracy and its anxious fantasies of equality? Synthesizing a broad range of theoretical traditions and interlocutors—including Lacan, Rancière, Edelman, and Hartman—Democratic Anarchy polemically declares that there has never been, nor can there ever be, a realized democracy in the U.S. because democracy always depends on the hierarchical institution of a formal order by one part of the population over another. Engaging with an expansive corpus of American literature and art (Harriet Jacobs, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Louis Zukofsky, Thomas Pynchon, Toni Morrison, Theresa Hak Kyung Cha, Nari Ward, Ocean Vuong, and Safiya Sinclair), Democratic Anarchy argues that many liberal concepts and institutions are in fact structurally opposed to democratic equality because they depend on regulating what can appear and in what form. By focusing on works that disrupt this regulatory impulse, Scully shows how rhetorical strategies of interruption, excess, and disorder figure the anarchic equality that inegalitarian fantasies of democracy disavow. Democratic Anarchy develops a rigorous theory of equality that refuses to repeat the inequalities against which it positions itself, and it does so by turning to moments of resistance—both aesthetic and political—inaugurated by the equality that inheres in and antagonizes the order of things.

Although the study of politics dates to ancient Greece, the basic questions that interested those earliest political scientists still linger with us today: What are the origins of government? What should government do? What conditions foster effective governance? Rational choice theory offers a new means for developing correctable answers to these questions. This volume illustrates the promise of rational choice theory and demonstrates how theory can help us develop interesting, fresh conclusions about the fundamental processes of politics. Each of the book’s three sections begins with a pedagogical overview that is accessible to those with little knowledge of rational choice theory. The first group of essays then discusses various ways in which rational choice contributes to our understanding of the foundations of government. The second set focuses on the contributions of rational choice theory to institutional analysis. The final group demonstrates ways in which rational choice theory helps to understand the character of popular government.

Explore the Definitive Works of Alexis de Tocqueville with "Democracy in America — Volume 1" and "Democracy in America — Volume 2" - A Monumental Compilation Embark on a profound journey into the heart of democracy with this exceptional 2 Ebook combo, showcasing the seminal works of Alexis de Tocqueville, a visionary thinker whose insights continue to shape political discourse. Book 1: Democracy in America — Volume 1 by Alexis de Tocqueville: A Comprehensive Study of Democracy's Foundations. Step into the rich tapestry of American society as Tocqueville meticulously examines the principles that underpin democracy. With keen observation and penetrating analysis, Tocqueville explores the strengths and weaknesses of democratic governance, offering invaluable insights into the nature of political participation, individual liberty, and the role of civil society. Book 2: Democracy in America — Volume 2: Alexis de Tocqueville's Continued Exploration of Democratic Institutions. Continue your journey through the corridors of power with Tocqueville's second volume, where he delves deeper into the intricacies of American democracy. From the dynamics of majority rule to the challenges of reconciling equality with individualism, Tocqueville's keen observations shed light on the complexities of democratic governance and its implications for society at large. Immerse yourself in the profound wisdom and timeless insights of Alexis de Tocqueville, whose visionary works continue to inform and inspire generations. Join the Expedition through the Foundations of Democracy! As you delve into the pages of "Democracy in America — Volume 1" and "Democracy in America — Volume 2," ponder this: What are the enduring principles that sustain democracy, and how can we navigate the challenges that threaten its foundations? Let Tocqueville's seminal works guide you on a journey of discovery and enlightenment. Don't miss this unparalleled 2 Ebook combo - Your Exploration of Democracy's Essence Begins Now!

Uniquely, critically interrogates the concept of 'civilization' by asking whether it is still valid in the globalized world economy of the twenty-first century. Includes case studies on the Arab world, Islam, China and Japan.

French thinker Alexis de Tocqueville’s Democracy in America has for years been a classic for American political studies. The expansive 2-volume original is here provided in a new abridgement for students, giving an accessible yet complete picture of Tocqueville’s thought. With a new introduction by editor John D. Wilsey, this volume opens a clear window into American political, cultural, and religious history.

The conflict between politics and antipolitics has replayed throughout Western history and philosophical thought. From the beginning, Plato's quest for absolute certainty led him to denounce democracy, an anti-political position challenged by Aristotle. In his wide-ranging narrative, Dick Howard puts this dilemma into fresh perspective, proving our contemporary political problems are not as unique as we think. Howard begins with democracy in ancient Greece and the rise and fall of republican politics in Rome. In the wake of Rome's collapse, political thought searched for a new medium, and the conflict between politics and antipolitics reemerged through the contrasting theories of Saint Augustine and Saint Thomas. During the Renaissance and Reformation, the emergence of the modern individual again transformed the terrain of the political. Even so, politics vs. antipolitics dominated the period, frustrating even Machiavelli, who sought to reconceptualize the nature of political thought. Hobbes and Locke, theorists of the social contract, then reenacted the conflict, which Rousseau sought (in vain) to overcome. Adam Smith and the growth of modern economic liberalism, the radicalism of the French revolution, and the conservative reaction of Edmund Burke subsequently marked the triumph of antipolitics, while the American Revolution momentarily offered the potential for a renewal of politics. Taken together, these historical examples, viewed through the prism of philosophy, reveal the roots of today's political climate and the trajectory of battles yet to come.