Agonistic democracy : rethinking political institutions in pluralist times / Marie Paxton.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Paxton, Marie, author.

Series:

Routledge advances in democratic theory ; 11.

Routledge advances in democratic theory ; 11

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Democracy--Philosophy.

Democracy.

Political science--Philosophy.

Political science.

Physical Description:

xi, 183 pages ; 24 cm.

Place of Publication:

Abingdon, Oxon ; New York, NY : Routledge, 2020.

Summary:

"Agonistic Democracy explores how theoretical concepts from agonistic democracy can inform institutional design in order to mediate conflict in multicultural, pluralist societies. Drawing on the work of Foucault, Nietzsche, Schmitt, and Arendt, Marie Paxton outlines the importance of their themes of public contestation, contingency and necessary interdependency for contemporary agonistic thinkers. Paxton delineates three distinct approaches to agonistic democracy: David Owen's perfectionist agonism, Mouffe's adversarial agonism, and William Connolly and James Tully's inclusive agonism. Paxton demonstrates how each is fundamental to enabling citizens to cultivate better virtues for themselves and society (Owen), motivating democratic engagement (Mouffe) and enhancing relations of respect and understanding between conflicting citizens (Connolly and Tully). Situated within the context of a deeply polarised post-Trump America and post-Brexit Britain, this book reveals the need to rethink our approach to conflict mediation through democratic institutions. Pulling together insights from experimental research with deliberative democratic innovations, Paxton explores how agonistic theory might be institutionalised further. Through discussing ways in which agonistic institutions might be developed to render democracy more virtuous, more engaging, and more inclusive, Agonistic Democracy provides a unique resource for students of contemporary political theory"-- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

Introduction: Why agonistic democracy?

The theoretical roots of agonistic democracy

Three approaches to agonistic democracy

Agonistic democracy and institutions

Experimenting with agonistic democracy

Insights from agonistic experimentation

Agonistic democracy and democratic innovations

Proposals for agonistic institutions.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Other Format:

Online version: Paxton, Marie. Agonistic democracy.

ISBN:

9781138354043

113835404X

OCLC:

1127069477