200,000+ Books, Games & Puzzles in-stock 🇳🇿 

Black Friday Sale on Now! Save up to 25% off Books, Toys, Board Games, & Puzzles! ✨

Democracy and Anarchy

Power in the Polis
By Donatella Di Cesare
0.0 (0 reviews)
Brief Description
At a time when democracy is under threat from new authoritarian forces and tendencies, this book looks back to the Greek dawn of the polis to uncover an element of democracy that has been repressed for centuries: its indissoluble link to anarchy. Whether demokratía is uttered... Read More
Format: Paperback / softback
TEMPORARILY OUT OF STOCK Please add to wishlist to be notified when back in stock

Sorry, we're currently out of stock of Democracy and Anarchy. Please add to your Wishlist and we'll send you an email as soon as it's back in stock.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

At a time when democracy is under threat from new authoritarian forces and tendencies, this book looks back to the Greek dawn of the polis to uncover an element of democracy that has been repressed for centuries: its indissoluble link to anarchy.

Whether demokratía is uttered with nervous enthusiasm or utter contempt, this word—whose semantic history is retraced here—points to two interconnected events: it evokes both the people's entry onto the stage of history and the destitution of every power that claims some original foundation. The spectre of anarchy unsettles the city. Democracy was feared by the tragedians, narrated by historians and denounced by philosophers. The arché of fathers, property owners, autochthons and heirs was profoundly undermined and stripped of legitimacy, while the space of politics was inaugurated.

Thus emerges the tragic condition of democracy, which is based on nothing certain, and risks even its own existence. Women are the protagonists of this story. It was a revolt of foreign women, fleeing domestic violence, that brought to the surface the compound term that names the people's capacity to assert itself. Democracy is born with hospitality. And the demos can never regress into éthnos, grounding itself in ties of blood and soil, nor can it suffocate conflict and division.

In this highly original analysis of democracy and its sources, Donatella Di Cesare brings to light a hidden and long-repressed feature of democracy and shows why it is relevant today, at a time when democracies face new and unprecedented dangers.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781509567256

Publisher: Polity Press

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 16 October 2026

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Polity Press

Contributors:

  • Translated by David Broder

Audience: Professional and scholarly

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 18.0mm

Height: 227.0mm

Weight: 340g

Pages: 234

Collections

Ancient & Classical History Donatella Di Cesare Education & Reference Non-Fiction Philosophy & Psychology Philosophy & Stoicism Politics & Current Affairs

About the Author

Donatella Di Cesare is Professor of Theoretical Philosophy at the Sapienza University of Rome.

Also by Donatella Di Cesare

View all
  • Heidegger and the Jews
    Philosophers have long struggled to reconcile Martin Heidegger's involvement in Nazism with his status as one of the greatest thinkers of the twentieth century. The recent publication of his Black Notebooks has reignited fierce debate on the subject. These thousand-odd pages of jotted observations profoundly challenge our image of the quiet philosopher's exile in the Black Forest, revealing the shocking...
    By Donatella Di Cesare
    Paperback
    $4499
    Available
    Ships in 3-4 weeks
  • If Auschwitz is Nothing
    Ever since the end of World War II, when the sheer enormity of the Nazi crime against the Jews became apparent, there have been repeated attempts to deny that the Holocaust really happened. The existence of gas chambers was questioned and the testimony of survivors was thrown into doubt. The more witnesses spoke out, the more they were intimidated and...
    By Donatella Di Cesare
    Paperback
    $3099
    Available
    Ships in 3-4 weeks
  • The Political Vocation of Philosophy
    It is time for philosophy to return to the city. In today’s crisis-ridden world of globalised capitalism, increasingly closed in on itself, it may seem harder than ever to think of ways out. Philosophy runs the risk of becoming the handmaiden of science and of a hollowed-out democracy. Donatella Di Cesare calls on philosophy instead to return to the political...
    By Donatella Di Cesare
    Paperback
    $3799
    Available
    Ships in 3-4 weeks
  • Conspiracy and Power
    Conspiracy and Power by Donatella Di Cesare delves into the realm of conspiracy theories, arguing that they are neither delusions nor lies, neither simplistic fallacies nor psychological quirks. Instead, Di Cesare contends that they present a political problem, focusing more on power than truth. Rather than dismissing conspiracy theories as creations of fringe groups and cranks, she offers an original...
    By Donatella Di Cesare
    Paperback
    $3099
    Available
    Ships in 3-4 weeks
  • Marranos
    The Marranos were Spanish or Portuguese Jews who converted to Christianity at the time of the Spanish Inquisition to avoid being massacred or forced to flee, but who continued to practise Judaism in secret. They were persecuted by the first racist blood laws, but the water of forced baptism was not enough to make them assimilate. Donatella Di Cesare sees...
    By Donatella Di Cesare
    Paperback
    $2399
    Available
    Ships in 3-4 weeks
  • Resident Foreigners
    From the shores of Europe to the Mexican-US border, mass migration is one of the most pressing issues we face today. Yet at the same time, calls to defend national sovereignty are becoming ever more vitriolic, with those fleeing war, persecution, and famine vilified as a threat to our security as well as our social and economic order. In Resident...
    By Donatella Di Cesare
    Paperback
    $4499
    Available
    Ships in 3-4 weeks
  • The Time of Revolt
    As capitalism triumphs on the ruins of utopias and faith in progress fades, revolts are breaking out everywhere. From London to Hong Kong and from Buenos Aires to Beirut, protests flare up, in some cases spreading like wildfire, in other cases petering out and reigniting elsewhere. Not even the pandemic has been able to stop them: as many were reflecting...
    By Donatella Di Cesare
    Paperback
    $3099
    Available
    Ships in 3-4 weeks
  • The Time of Revolt
    As capitalism triumphs on the ruins of utopias and faith in progress fades, revolts are breaking out everywhere. From London to Hong Kong and from Buenos Aires to Beirut, protests flare up, in some cases spreading like wildfire, in other cases petering out and reigniting elsewhere. Not even the pandemic has been able to stop them: as many were reflecting...
    By Donatella Di Cesare
    Hardback
    $9599
    Available
    Ships in 3-4 weeks
  • Terror and Modernity
    We are inclined to see terrorist attacks as an aberration, a violent incursion into our lives that bears no intrinsic relation to the fundamental features of modern societies. But does this view misconstrue the relationship between terror and modernity? In Terror and Modernity, philosopher Donatella Di Cesare takes a historical approach and argues that terror is not a new phenomenon,...
    By Donatella Di Cesare
    Paperback
    $4099
    Available
    Ships in 3-4 weeks
  • Torture
    Torture
    Torture is not as universally condemned as it once was. From Guantánamo and Abu Ghraib prisons to the death of Giulio Regeni, countless recent cases have shocked public opinion. But if we want to defend the human dignity that torture violates, simple indignation is not enough. In this important book, Donatella Di Cesare provides a critical perspective on torture in...
    By Donatella Di Cesare
    Paperback
    $4099
    Available
    Ships in 3-4 weeks
  • If Auschwitz is Nothing
    If Auschwitz is Nothing
    Ever since the end of World War II, when the sheer enormity of the Nazi crime against the Jews became apparent, there have been repeated attempts to deny that the Holocaust really happened. The existence of gas chambers was questioned and the testimony of survivors was thrown into doubt; the more witnesses spoke out, the more they were intimidated and...
    By Donatella Di Cesare
    Hardback
    $9599
    Available
    Ships in 3-4 weeks

Browse lists from our team

The Latest at Book Hero

View all

More from Philosophy & Psychology

View all
  • On Sale
    22% off
    Atomic Habits
    Atomic Habits by James Clear is a transformative guide that demonstrates how tiny, incremental changes in behaviour can fundamentally reshape your life. Rather than urging sweeping transformations, Clear advocates for the compound effect of hundreds of small decisions. Whether it’s performing two push-ups a day, waking up five minutes earlier, or making a brief, focused phone call, these minuscule adjustments,...
    By James Clear
    Paperback
    $2500
    Elsewhere:
    $4000
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Signed Copy
    New Release
    Your Time Is Now
    An inspiring guide to letting go of the past, turning inaction into action, and taking charge of your own destiny. Suzanne Paul is one of New Zealand's most cherished personalities, known for her unwavering positivity. Over the last twenty years in her work as a motivational speaker, she has taught people around the country how to overcome setbacks and take...
    By Suzanne Paul
    Paperback
    $3199
    Elsewhere:
    $3999
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • On Sale
    23% off
    1984 Nineteen Eighty-Four
    In the drab and oppressive world of 1984 Nineteen Eighty-Four, George Orwell introduces us to Winston Smith, a man haunted by the omnipresent surveillance and control exercised by the Party and its enigmatic leader, Big Brother. Winston works diligently at the Ministry of Truth, where his job is to alter historical records to fit the ever-changing narrative dictated by the...
    By George Orwell
    Paperback
    $1000
    Usually:
    $1299
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • How Lucky Am I
    How Lucky Am I
    The first full book featuring social media sensation Mr. Skelly, with over 5 million global followers, a skeleton who teaches us that life is a gift to be treasured, reminding us how lucky we all are to live in this present moment. For readers of The Book of Gifts and The Little Frog’s Guide to Self Care. In this poignant,...
    By Christian Watson
    Hardback
    $4299
    Elsewhere:
    $5500
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • The Daily Stoic
    The Daily Stoic by Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman offers an enriching journey through the ancient philosophy of Stoicism, distilled into a format meant for modern readers' daily use. This compelling book is structured as a day-by-day guide, bringing wisdom, insight, and guidance from esteemed Stoic philosophers like Seneca, Epictetus, and Marcus Aurelius directly to your life. Each day unveils...
    By Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman
    Paperback
    $2700
    Elsewhere:
    $3299
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • On Sale
    13% off
    The Happiness Trap
    Free yourself from depression, anxiety, and insecurity, and instead, build a rich and meaningful life with the world's best-selling guide to Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). Over 1 million copies sold! The Happiness Trap by Dr. Russ Harris is an illuminating and transformative guide designed to help readers navigate the challenging landscape of modern life. As an expert in ACT,...
    By Doctor Russ Harris
    Paperback
    $2800
    Elsewhere:
    $3999
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • On Sale
    16% off
    The DOSE Effect
    The DOSE Effect offers small habits to boost your brain chemistry. "This book will help you find more motivation, create deeper connections, energise your body, and destress your mind," says Jay Shetty, author of Think Like a Monk. Life can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. Today’s fast-paced world leaves many of us struggling with extreme emotional highs...
    By TJ Power
    Paperback
    $2700
    Elsewhere:
    $3999
    (2)
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Godel, Escher, Bach
    Godel, Escher, Bach, by Douglas R. Hofstadter, is a Pulitzer Prize-winning masterpiece that delves into the complex interplay between the works and ideas of three brilliant minds: mathematician Kurt Gödel, artist M. C. Escher, and composer Johann Sebastian Bach. This interdisciplinary treatise embarks on a journey through a labyrinth of mathematical theorems, artful prints, and intricate compositions, weaving them together...
    By Douglas R. Hofstadter
    Paperback
    $4200
    Elsewhere:
    $4999
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • On Sale
    12% off
    The Winner's Formula
    The Neuroscience of Peak Performance, Success, and Happiness Why do some people win all the time? Why do others languish? From Olympians to Formula 1 drivers, addicts to billionaires, cognitive neuroscientist Dr Kerry Spackman has spent decades working to help people understand how to succeed. In The Winner's Formula, Kerry explains what goes on in your brain when you are...
    By Kerry Spackman
    Paperback
    $2800
    Elsewhere:
    $3999
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • On Sale
    12% off
    The Courage to be Disliked
    The Courage to be Disliked by Ichiro Kishimi and Fumitake Koga presents an enlightening and thought-provoking dialogue between a philosopher and a young man disillusioned with life. In a series of conversations, the philosopher introduces the principles of Alfred Adler's psychology, advocating for personal empowerment and mental freedom. Through this engaging dialogue, the young man learns to confront the societal...
    By Ichiro Kishimi and Fumitake Koga
    Paperback
    $2200
    Elsewhere:
    $2999
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • On Sale
    18% off
    Don't Believe Everything You Think (Expanded Edition)
    In this book, you'll discover the root cause of all psychological and emotional suffering and how to achieve freedom of mind to effortlessly create the life you've always wanted to live. Although pain is inevitable, suffering is optional. This book offers a completely new paradigm and understanding of where our human experience comes from, allowing us to end our own...
    By Joseph Nguyen
    Paperback
    $2300
    Elsewhere:
    $3500
    (1)
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • The Creative Act
    Many famed music producers are known for a particular sound that has its day and then ages out. Rick Rubin is known for something else: creating a space where artists of all different genres and traditions can home in on who they really are and what they really offer. He has made a practice of helping people transcend their self-imposed...
    By Rick Rubin
    Hardback
    $4400
    Elsewhere:
    $5500
    (1)
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow

Why buy from us?

Book Hero is not a chain store or big box retailer. We're an independent 100% NZ-owned business on a mission to help more Kiwis rediscover a love of books and reading!

Service & Delivery

Service & Delivery

Our warehouse in Auckland holds over 200,000 books, toys, board games and puzzles in-stock so you're not waiting for your order to arrive from overseas.

Auckland Bookstore

Auckland Bookstore

We're primarily an online store, but for your convenience you can pick up your order for free from our bookstore, which is right next door to our warehouse in Hobsonville.

Our Gifting Service

Our Gifting Service

Books make wonderful thoughtful gifts and we're here to help with gift-wrapping and cards. We can even send your gift directly to your loved one.