Very Short Introductions: Brilliant, Sharp, Inspiring Democracy
refers to both ideal and real forms of government. The concept of
democracy means that those governed — the demos — have a say in
government. But different conceptions of democracy have left many
out. Naomi Zack provides here a fresh treatment of the history of
this idea and its key conceptions. In the ancient world, direct and
representative democracy in Athens and Rome privileged elites, as
did democratic deliberative bodies in Africa, India, the Middle
East, and China. Plato, Aristotle, and Cicero were sceptical of
mob-rule dangers of democracy. The medieval and renaissance periods
saw legislative checks on monarchy, notably the Magna Carta. The
social contract theories of Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, and
Jean-Jacques Rousseau matched political expectations that national
government be based on consent, for the benefit of those governed.
The American Revolution established a new sovereignty, based on
British government tradition. By contrast, the French Revolution
heralded universal humanitarian ideals. In the nineteenth century,
Jeremy Bentham, John Stuart Mill, Immanuel Kant, and Karl Marx
focused on the democratization of society. Mary Wollstonecraft had
championed women's education and rights and Mill advocated further
for that cause. Movements for the abolition of slavery, women's
suffrage, and labour unionization were organized. World War II
brought a reset in the twentieth century, with new democratic
governments for many countries, including India and South Africa,
and new ideals. Karl Popper, Hannah Arendt, and John Rawls
emphasized orderly government transition, inclusion, and fairness.
Equalitarian goals have concerned racial and ethnic minorities, as
well as women. The twenty-first century has brought fresh
challenges, including disasters and uninformed electorates.
Democracy among nations is a future goal. ABOUT THE SERIES: The
Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press
contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These
pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new
subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis,
perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and
challenging topics highly readable.
General
Imprint: |
Oxford UniversityPress
|
Country of origin: |
United Kingdom |
Series: |
Very Short Introductions |
Release date: |
September 2023 |
Authors: |
Naomi Zack
(Professor of Philosophy)
|
Dimensions: |
174 x 111mm (L x W) |
Format: |
Paperback
|
Pages: |
192 |
ISBN-13: |
978-0-19-284506-1 |
Categories: |
Books
|
LSN: |
0-19-284506-3 |
Barcode: |
9780192845061 |
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!