Counter-Democracy: Politics in an Age of Distrust (The Seeley Lectures, Series Number 7) - Softcover

Rosanvallon, Pierre

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0521713838 ISBN 13: 9780521713832

Publisher: Cambridge University Press, 2008

Synopsis

Democracy is established as a generally uncontested ideal, while regimes inspired by this form of government fall under constant criticism. Hence, the steady erosion of confidence in representatives that has become one of the major political issues of our time. Amidst these challenges, the paradox remains that while citizens are less likely to make the trip to the ballot box, the world is far from entering a phase of general political apathy. Demonstrations and activism abound in the streets, in cities across the globe and on the internet. Pierre Rosanvallon analyses the mechanisms used to register a citizen's expression of confidence or distrust, and then focuses on the role that distrust plays in democracy from both a historical and theoretical perspective. This radical shift in perspective uncovers a series of practices - surveillance, prevention, and judgement - through which society corrects and exerts pressure.

About this title

Book Description:

Democracy has been established as an uncontested ideal while regimes inspired by this form of government now fall under constant criticism. Hence, the steady erosion of confidence in representatives has become a major political phenomenon. Counter-Democracy offers a unique perspective on the unsettled and confusing state of world politics today.

About the Author:

Pierre Rosanvallon is Professor and Chair of modern and contemporary political history at the Collège de France.

About this edition

• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Publication date: 2008
• ISBN 10: 0521713838
• ISBN 13: 9780521713832
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 350