
Social Progress and the Authoritarian Challenge to Democracy
Donald G. Reid(Author)
Routledge (Publisher)
1st Edition
Published on 9. October 2024
Book
Paperback/Softback
226 pages
978-1-032-26087-7 (ISBN)
Description
Social Progress and the Authoritarian Challenge to Democracy examines the authoritarian challenge to present-day democracy through a framing of social progress theory and the idea of the social contract. Building on the author's previous work, this book discusses whether social progress is linear and on a continual upward trajectory to human betterment, or if there are peaks and troughs along the way. More importantly, it questions that, if social progress exists, is it compatible with social and environmental sustainability?
At the outset the book introduces the concepts of social contract theory and the idea of human social progress, long considered to be settled conditions, now ripe for further examination. Each chapter carefully analyses the contemporary struggle between democracy and authoritarianism, using examples from the USA as a foundation to discuss and compare democracies from around the world encountering the pressures of rising authoritarianism, including anti-immigration, xenophobia and anti-institutionalism. It argues that if the climate crisis is to be urgently addressed as required, the rise in authoritarian thinking, with its focus on maintaining power and the creation of individual wealth, presents a challenge to both our societal foundations and environmental sustainability.
Highlighting and analysing topics of critical importance to today's society, this book will have widespread appeal to academics, researchers and postgraduate students throughout the social sciences including sociology, political science, philosophy, environmental sustainability and development studies.
At the outset the book introduces the concepts of social contract theory and the idea of human social progress, long considered to be settled conditions, now ripe for further examination. Each chapter carefully analyses the contemporary struggle between democracy and authoritarianism, using examples from the USA as a foundation to discuss and compare democracies from around the world encountering the pressures of rising authoritarianism, including anti-immigration, xenophobia and anti-institutionalism. It argues that if the climate crisis is to be urgently addressed as required, the rise in authoritarian thinking, with its focus on maintaining power and the creation of individual wealth, presents a challenge to both our societal foundations and environmental sustainability.
Highlighting and analysing topics of critical importance to today's society, this book will have widespread appeal to academics, researchers and postgraduate students throughout the social sciences including sociology, political science, philosophy, environmental sustainability and development studies.
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Taylor & Francis Ltd
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Academic and Postgraduate
Dimensions
Height: 234 mm
Width: 156 mm
Thickness: 13 mm
Weight
371 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-032-26087-7 (9781032260877)
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Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

Donald G. Reid
Social Progress and the Authoritarian Challenge to Democracy
Book
07/2022
1st Edition
Routledge
€206.40
Shipment within 10-20 days

Donald G. Reid
Social Progress and the Authoritarian Challenge to Democracy
E-Book
07/2022
1st Edition
Routledge
€53.99
Available for download

Donald G. Reid
Social Progress and the Authoritarian Challenge to Democracy
E-Book
07/2022
1st Edition
Routledge
€53.99
Available for download
Person
Donald G. Reid is University Professor Emeritus in the School of Environmental Design and Rural Development (SEDRD) at the University of Guelph in Canada. He is an international scholar whose work focuses on sustainable development, social planning, poverty, community development, leisure, and tourism. His previous books are Social Policy and Planning for the 21st Century: In Search of the Next Great Social Transformation (Routledge, 2017) and A New World-System: From Chaos to Sustainability (Routledge, 2020).
Content
1. The Basis of Human Culture 2. The Social Contract: The Beginning of Civilization? 3. Social Progress and Change Throughout Human History 4. The Upward Trajectory of Social Progress 5. The Ideological Struggle 6. Achieving Meaning in Life 7. Reconstructing the Social Contract and the Idea of Social Progress