Why not moderation? : letters to young radicals / Aurelian Craiutu.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Crăiuțu, Aurelian, author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Political culture--United States.

Political culture.

Moderation--Political aspects--United States.

Moderation.

Radicalism--United States.

Radicalism.

Polarization (Social sciences)--United States.

Polarization (Social sciences).

United States--Politics and government.

United States.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (xiii, 261 pages) : digital, PDF file(s).

Place of Publication:

Cambridge ; New York, NY : Cambridge University Press, 2024.

Summary:

Moderation is often presented as a simple virtue for lukewarm and indecisive minds, searching for a fuzzy center between the extremes. Not surprisingly, many politicians do not want to be labelled 'moderates' for fear of losing elections. Why Not Moderation? challenges this conventional image and shows that moderation is a complex virtue with a rich tradition and unexplored radical sides. Through a series of imaginary letters between a passionate moderate and two young radicals, the book outlines the distinctive political vision undergirding moderation and makes a case for why we need this virtue today in America. Drawing on clearly written and compelling sources, Craiutu offers an opportunity to rethink moderation and participate in the important public debate on what kind of society we want to live inches His book reminds us that we cannot afford to bargain away the liberal civilization and open society we have inherited from our forefathers.

Contents:

Prologue : why radical moderation?

Interlude : the interlocutors

Can liberal democracy be saved?

Rediscovering moderation in our immoderate age

The skepticism toward moderation and what its critics miss about it

The archipelago of moderation (I) : the old world

The archipelago of moderation (II) : the new world

An alternative to ideology

An antidote to fanaticism

The limits of moral clarity

Against the politics of warfare

No Manichaeism and no litmus tests

Compromise

Trimming and balance

Centrism

Eclecticism and pluralism

Dialogue

Intermezzo : the lure of radicalism

The spirit of moderation

Modesty and humility

Civility

Prudence

Realism and pragmatic partisanship

the last beacon of hope?

Epilogue : rules for "radical moderates".

Notes:

Title from publisher's bibliographic system (viewed on 12 Oct 2023).

Other Format:

Print version:

ISBN:

9781108848855 (ebook)

Access Restriction:

Restricted for use by site license.