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Reconstructing Democracy
How Citizens Are Building from the Ground Up
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Reconstructing Democracy
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?
This book is ideal for readers interested in politics, community activism, and democratic theory, especially those seeking hopeful and practical insights on restoring democracy from the ground up.
Today’s democracies suffer from two mutually reinforcing ills: declining problem-solving capacities and a growing disconnect between the people and political elites. Reconstructing Democracy offers case studies in citizen efficacy, showing how people can solve problems locally and thereby quell the frustrations that demagogues prey on.
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Description
"An urgent manifesto for the reconstruction of democratic belonging in our troubled times."
-Davide Panagia
Across the world, democracies are suffering from a disconnect between the people and political elites. In communities where jobs and industry are scarce, many feel the government is incapable of understanding their needs or addressing their problems. The resulting frustration has fueled the success of destabilising demagogues.
To reverse this pattern and restore responsible government, we need to reinvigorate democracy at the local level. But what does that mean?
Drawing on examples of successful community building in cities large and small, from a shrinking village in rural Austria to a neglected section of San Diego, Reconstructing Democracy makes a powerful case for re-engaging citizens. It highlights innovative grassroots projects and shows how local activists can form alliances and discover their own power to solve problems.
Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?
Davide Panagia calls it "an urgent manifesto" offering robust philosophical and practical solutions to reestablish trust in citizen participation and solidarity. Thomas Dumm praises its ambition and compelling examples of active citizen engagement through councils, grassroots organisers, and NGOs that reshape communities and the public sphere, opening fresh possibilities for ordinary people to influence their local priorities.
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9780674244627
Publisher: Harvard University Press
Format: Hardback
Date Published: 17 March 2020
Country: United States
Imprint: Harvard University Press
Audience: Professional and scholarly
DIMENSIONS
Spine width: 15.0mm
Width: 111.0mm
Height: 181.0mm
Weight: 172g
Pages: 120
About the Author
Charles Taylor is Professor Emeritus in the Department of Philosophy at McGill University. Author of The Language Animal, Sources of the Self, The Ethics of Authenticity, and A Secular Age, he has received many honors, including the Templeton Prize, the Berggruen Prize, and membership in the Order of Canada. Patrizia Nanz is president of the European University Institute (EUI). She is a coauthor of No Representation Without Consultation: A Citizen’s Guide to Participatory Democracy. Madeleine Beaubien Taylor is the Chief Executive Officer of Network Impact and coauthor of Connecting to Change the World: Harnessing the Power of Networks for Social Impact. She previously taught with the Committee on Degrees in Social Studies at Harvard University.
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