Few terms elicit such strong and varied feelings and yet have so little clarity as 'democracy.' Leaders of large states use 'democracy' to designate their nations' public character even as critics and rivals use the term to validate their own political perspectives.
In Envisioning Democracy, the editors and contributors address the following questions: what does democracy mean today? What could it mean tomorrow? And what is the dynamic of democracy in an increasingly interdependent world? Envisioning Democracy explores these questions amid the dynamic of democracy as a political phenomenon interacting with forms of economic, ethical, ethnic, and intellectual life. The book draws on the thought of Sheldon S. Wolin (1922-2015), one of the most influential American theorists of the last fifty years. Here, scholars consider the historical conditions, theoretical elements, and practical impediments to democracy, using Wolin's insights as touchstones in thinking through the possibilities and obstacles facing democracy now and in the future.
Edited by:
Terry Maley,
John R. Wallach
Imprint: University of Toronto Press
Country of Publication: Canada
Dimensions:
Height: 234mm,
Width: 157mm,
Spine: 28mm
Weight: 540g
ISBN: 9781487565602
ISBN 10: 1487565607
Pages: 288
Publication Date: 01 March 2023
Audience:
College/higher education
,
Professional and scholarly
,
Primary
,
Undergraduate
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active
Introduction Section 1: Wolin and Democratic Theory – Ancient Roots, Modern Issues 1. Interpreting Democracy in Undemocratic Societies John R. Wallach 2. Aristotle on Enmity: Ideology, Somatic Justice, and Emotions Ingrid Creppell 3. Sheldon Wolin and Democratic “Theory” Jason Frank Section 2: Memory and Myth in Wolin and Beyond 4. Wolin on Myth: A Critique Terence Ball 5. Social Amnesia in Canada’s TRC: Sheldon Wolin, Radical Indigenous Thought, and the Settler-Colonial Politics of Reconciliation Calvin L. Lincez Section 3: Democracy and Political Education: Wolin and Contemporary Interlocutors 6. Realistic Political Education Stephen Esquith 7. Wolin and Said on Political Education, Vision, and Intellectual Tradition Lucy Cane Section 4: Thinking with and beyond Wolin – Current Democratic Practices and Issues 8. Democracy between Reactionary Tribalism and the Megastate Iain Webb 9. The Historical Fate of Fugitive Democracy Today Terry Maley 10. Transformative Sanctuary: Rethinking Fugitive Democracy and Black Fugitivity with Frontline Communities in the Underground Railroad Romand Coles and Lia Haro 11. Visioning Limits or Unlimited Vision? The Vocation of Political Theory in the Anthropocene Andrew Biro
Terry Maley is an associate professor of politics at York University. John R. Wallach is a retired professor of political science at Hunter College & The Graduate Center of The City University of New York.
Reviews for Envisioning Democracy: New Essays after Sheldon Wolin's Political Thought
""Sheldon Wolin was one of the most original and important political theorists of the last 70 years and Envisioning Democracy is a fitting tribute to his great contribution. The four sections of the volume explicate and engage critically with Wolin's work on the history of political theory, memory and myth, education, and its continuing relevance today. It is a must-read for anyone interested in the history and present of political theory."" --James Tully, Professor Emeritus of Political Science and Law, University of Victoria ""This volume comes at a moment when renewed democratic energies are being coupled with strife and division. With sound scholarship and well-argued contributions, Envisioning Democracy situates Sheldon Wolin in his context for those who may not know much about him or his relationship to 1960s Berkeley. It offers a thoughtful history of democracy as both a concept and a politics."" --Lisa Disch, Professor of Political Science, University of Michigan
