Books > History
|
Buy Now
The Challenge To Democracy (Paperback)
Loot Price: R769
Discovery Miles 7 690
|
|
The Challenge To Democracy (Paperback)
Expected to ship within 10 - 15 working days
|
THE CHALLENGE TO DEMOCRACY by C DELISLE BURNS By the same Author
THE HORIZON OF EXPERIENCE LEISURE IN THE MODERN WORLD MODERN
CIVILIZATION ON TRIAL DEMOCRACY: ITS DEFECTS AND ADVANTAGES
GOVERNMENT AND INDUSTRY INDUSTRY AND CIVILIZATION PRINCIPLES OF
REVOLUTION INTRODUCTION TO THE SOCIAL SCIENCES THE PHILOSOPHY OF
LABOUR A SHORT HISTORY OF INTERNATIONAL INTERCOURSE PREFACE THE
challenge to democracy is most clearly expressed in the support
given to dictatorship. But there is a deeper challenge in the
situation out of which dictator ship has arisen. Dictatorship may
be objectionable but arguments against it should not hide the
difficulties with which the democratic tradition itself is faced
for dictatorship is only an effort to meet the needs of the present
situation by resorting to primitive methods of organizing the
desire for a life in common. And even if we reject dictatorship, we
shall still have to face the fact that poverty and war and other
evils exist. What is to be done about such evils? It is clear at
least that we cannot safely wait for the clouds to roll by, in any
country. The challenge which is felt in the pressure of evils is,
from another point of view, an effort of new forces to seek an
outlet among institutions which have been inherited from a very
different past. The desire for social change is due mainly to the
dissolution of traditional customs and the consequent feeling of
isolation or helplessness, especially amon the young. If men and
women feel that they are out in the cold, they will fly to any
refugeeven the lair of the caveman. The real issue, therefore, is
not a question of political devices or economic organization: it is
a challenge to the whole basis of civilized lifethe free discussion
of opposing views and the criticism of authorities. Simple or
primitive minds believe that criticism and discussion will dissolve
loyalty and undermine se curity but it is precisely thesecriticism
and discus sionwhich have discovered new truth and established new
forms of civilized life. Therefore, in answer to the challenge, the
democratic tradition must be carried forward so as to rescue
ordinary folk not only from the dangers of dogmatism and perse
cution under dictatorship, but also from the loneliness and
insecurity of a decaying social order. That is to say, free
criticism and open discussion must be proved to lead to a new sense
of community, and of the common good to be shared by all. Not
dictatorship against democracy, but barbarism against civilization,
is the issue. This book is not a programme of reform or recon
struction, but a discussion of the emotional force necessary for
advance beyond the horizon of the nineteenth century in politics
and economic organization. It does not deal with institutions
except as examples of social tendencies. The proverb says that one
cannot make a silk purse out of a sows ear and there are already
many published designs for silk purses. But this book deals with
the sows ear. It proposes certain changes in ordinary men and
women, to be achieved mainly by themselves.
General
Imprint: |
Read Books
|
Country of origin: |
United Kingdom |
Release date: |
November 2006 |
First published: |
November 2006 |
Authors: |
C Delisle Burns
|
Dimensions: |
216 x 140 x 15mm (L x W x T) |
Format: |
Paperback - Trade
|
Pages: |
272 |
ISBN-13: |
978-1-4067-3368-6 |
Categories: |
Books >
Humanities >
History >
General
Books >
History >
General
|
LSN: |
1-4067-3368-7 |
Barcode: |
9781406733686 |
Is the information for this product incomplete, wrong or inappropriate?
Let us know about it.
Does this product have an incorrect or missing image?
Send us a new image.
Is this product missing categories?
Add more categories.
Review This Product
No reviews yet - be the first to create one!
|
You might also like..
|
Email address subscribed successfully.
A activation email has been sent to you.
Please click the link in that email to activate your subscription.