Democracy Against Itself
Sustaining an Unsustainable Idea
Published on 18. June 2014
Book
Hardback
208 pages
978-0-7486-8188-4 (ISBN)
Description
Why do some democracies self-destruct? Using the collapse of democracy in ancient Athens and the Weimar Republic, as well as the uncertain fate of democratic rule in the United States and China today as illustrative examples, Mark Chou examines the conditions and characteristics of democracy that make it prone to self-destruct. In drawing out the political lessons from these past collapses, he explains how a democracy can, simply by being democratic, sow the seeds of its own destruction.
Reviews / Votes
An enormously important book on politics and democracy. What makes it both interesting and brilliant reading is not Chou's abandonment of democracy but his scorching analysis of how democracy is misrepresented - the perversions and swindles made in its name against its real promise. Read this book and you will never again take democracy for granted. -- Henry A. Giroux, McMaster University and Ryerson University, Canada Mark Chou reveals the endogenous factors that can make democracy unsustainable. This eloquently written book offers new insights on democratic politics for scholars, students and citizens. -- Nancy S. Love, Professor of Political Science, Appalachian State UniversityMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
Edinburgh
United Kingdom
Target group
College/higher education
Product notice
Unsewn / adhesive bound
Paper over boards
Dimensions
Height: 241 mm
Width: 163 mm
Thickness: 25 mm
Weight
522 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-7486-8188-4 (9780748681884)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
06/2014
1st Edition
Edinburgh University Press
€0.00
Available for download
Person
Mark Chou is Lecturer in Politics in the Faculty of Education and Arts at Australian Catholic University. He is also the author of Greek Tragedy and Contemporary Politics (Bloomsbury: 2012).
Content
Introduction
Democracy Against Itself
Democracy in Athens: Autonomy, Tragedy and Decline
Democide in Weimar: Militant Democracy and the Paradox of Self-Defence
The Coming Authoritarianism: The State of America's Democracy
China's New Authoritarianism: A Glimpse at Our Post-Democratic Future?
Occupy Democracy: Democracy Against Itself and the Global Occupy Movement
Bibliography
Index
Democracy Against Itself
Democracy in Athens: Autonomy, Tragedy and Decline
Democide in Weimar: Militant Democracy and the Paradox of Self-Defence
The Coming Authoritarianism: The State of America's Democracy
China's New Authoritarianism: A Glimpse at Our Post-Democratic Future?
Occupy Democracy: Democracy Against Itself and the Global Occupy Movement
Bibliography
Index