Partisanship and political liberalism in diverse societies / Matteo Bonottii.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Bonotti, Matteo.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Political parties.

Liberalism.

Democracy.

Political science.

Physical Description:

viii, 197 pages ; 24 cm

Edition:

First edition.

Place of Publication:

Oxford : Oxford University Press, 2017.

Summary:

Since its publication in 1993, John Rawls's Political Liberalism has been central to debates concerning political legitimacy, democratic theory, toleration, and multiculturalism in contemporary political theory. Yet, despite the immense body of literature which has been produced since Rawls's work was published, very little has been said or written regarding the place of political parties and partisanship within political liberalism. This book aims to fill this gap in the literature. Its central argument is that political liberalism needs and nourishes political parties, and that political parties are therefore not hostile but vital to it. First, partisanship generates its own distinctive kind of political obligations, additional to any political obligations people may have qua ordinary citizens. Second, contrary to what many critics argue, and despite its admittedly restrictive features, Rawls's conception of public reason allows significant scope for partisan advocacy and partisan pluralism, and in fact the very normative demands of partisanship are in sympathy with those of public reason. Third, parties contribute to the overlapping consensus that for Rawls guarantees stability in diverse societies. Fourth, political liberalism nourishes political parties, by leaving many issues, including religious and socio-economic ones, open to democratic contestation. In summary, parties contribute both to the legitimacy and to the stability of political liberalism.

Contents:

Introduction

The Political Obligations of Partisans

Partisanship and Conflicting Obligations

Political Liberalism and Democratic Contestation

Partisanship and the Constraints of Public Reason

Free Speech and the Duty of Civility

Political Parties and the Overlapping Consensus

Partisanship and the Division of Justificatory Labour

Partisan Speech and Political Legitimacy

Conclusion.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 177-192) and index.

ISBN:

0198739508

9780198739500

OCLC:

968554742