Democracy Against Itself
Sustaining an Unsustainable Idea
Will be published approx. on 30. June 2026
Book
Paperback/Softback
192 pages
978-1-3995-6564-6 (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
Edition
New in Paperback
Language
English
Place of publication
Edinburgh
United Kingdom
Target group
College/higher education
Dimensions
Height: 234 mm
Width: 156 mm
ISBN-13
978-1-3995-6564-6 (9781399565646)
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
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