The Shortest History Of Democracy

Author : John Keane
Publisher : Unknown
Page : 0 pages
File Size : 48,8 Mb
Release : 2022-02
Category : Democracy
ISBN : 1760642568

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The Shortest History of Democracy by John Keane Pdf

In a time of grave uncertainty about the future of our planet, the radical potential of democracy is more important than ever. From its beginnings in Syria-Mesopotamia - and not Athens - to its role in fomenting revolutionary fervour in France and America, democracy has subverted fixed ways of deciding who should enjoy power and privilege, and why. For democracy encourages people to do something radical- to come together as equals, to determine their own lives and futures. In this vigorous, illuminating history, acclaimed political thinker John Keane traces its byzantine history, from the age of assembly democracy in Athens, to European-inspired electoral democracy and the birth of representative government, to our age of monitory democracy. He gives new reasons why democracy is a precious global ideal, and shows that as the world has come to be shaped by democracy, it has grown more worldly - American-style liberal democracy is giving way to regional varieties with a local character in places such as Taiwan, India, Senegal and South Africa. In an age of cascading crises, we need the radical potential of democracy more than ever. Does it have a future, or will the demagogues and despots win? We are about to find out.

Author : John Keane
Publisher : The Experiment, LLC
Page : 231 pages
File Size : 43,9 Mb
Release : 2022-09-06
Category : Political Science
ISBN : 9781615198979

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The Shortest History of Democracy: 4,000 Years of Self-Government - A Retelling for Our Times (Shortest History) by John Keane Pdf

The full chronological sweep of democracy, from the assemblies of ancient Mesopotamia and Athens to present perils around the globe. The Shortest History books deliver thousands of years of history in one riveting, fast-paced read. This compact history unspools the tumultuous global story that began with democracy’s radical core idea: We can collaborate, as equals, to determine our own futures. Acclaimed political thinker John Keane traces how this concept emerged and evolved, from the earliest “assembly democracies” in Syria-Mesopotamia to European-style “electoral democracy” and to our uncertain present. Today, thanks to our always-on communication channels, governments answer not only to voters on Election Day but to intense scrutiny every day. This is “monitory democracy”—in Keane’s view, the most complex and vibrant model yet—but it’s not invulnerable. Monitory democracy comes with its own pathologies, and the new despotism wields powerful warning systems, from social media to election monitoring, against democracy itself. At this urgent moment, when despots in countries such as China, Russia, Iran, and Saudi Arabia reject the promises of democratic power-sharing, Keane mounts a bold defense of a precious global ideal.

Author : John Keane
Publisher : The Experiment
Page : 240 pages
File Size : 42,8 Mb
Release : 2022-09-06
Category : Political Science
ISBN : 1615198962

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The Shortest History of Democracy by John Keane Pdf

In an age of intense social and political polarization, the radical potential of democracy is more important than ever, as revealed in this illuminating history by a celebrated political theorist. From its beginnings in Syria-Mesopotamia and Athens to its role in fomenting revolutionary fervor in France and America, democracy has subverted fixed ways of deciding who should enjoy power and privilege—and why. Democracy encourages people to do something radical: to come together as equals, to determine their own lives and futures. In The Shortest History of Democracy, acclaimed political thinker John Keane traces its byzantine history, from the age of assembly democracy in the Middle East and Greece to European-inspired electoral democracy and the birth of representative government to our age of “monitory democracy”—a helpful concept the author introduces to describe how democratic governments today are under constant media-driven public scrutiny (monitoring) and held accountable by watchdog organizations of every stripe. Keane calls this “the most complex and vibrant form of democracy yet,” reaching far beyond just casting one’s vote on election day. Democracy today is defined by the rapid growth of many new kinds of extra-governmental watchdog mechanisms that reach into every aspect of public and private life—think investigative journalism, activism, strikes, election monitoring, climate action networks, public outcries against scandal and corruption. As the world has come to be shaped by democracy, it has grown more worldly; American-style liberal democracy is giving way to regional varieties in places such as Taiwan, India, Senegal, and South Africa. Meanwhile, despotic regimes in Turkey, Russia, Hungary, the United Arab Emirates, Iran, and China reject the promises of power-sharing democracy. Keane gives new reasons why democracy is a precious global ideal, and how the voice and vote of the average citizen has multiplied through the proliferation of different power-checking outlets. In an age of crisis, he argues, we need the “radical potential of democracy” more than ever. Does democracy have a future, or will the demagogues and despots win? We are about to find out.

Author : John Keane
Publisher : Simon and Schuster
Page : 717 pages
File Size : 42,8 Mb
Release : 2009-06-01
Category : History
ISBN : 9781847377609

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The Life and Death of Democracy by John Keane Pdf

John Keane's The Life and Death of Democracy will inspire and shock its readers. Presenting the first grand history of democracy for well over a century, it poses along the way some tough and timely questions: can we really be sure that democracy had its origins in ancient Greece? How did democratic ideals and institutions come to have the shape they do today? Given all the recent fanfare about democracy promotion, why are many people now gripped by the feeling that a bad moon is rising over all the world's democracies? Do they indeed have a future? Or is perhaps democracy fated to melt away, along with our polar ice caps? The work of one of Britain's leading political writers, this is no mere antiquarian history. Stylishly written, this superb book confronts its readers with an entirely fresh and irreverent look at the past, present and future of democracy. It unearths the beginnings of such precious institutions and ideals as government by public assembly, votes for women, the secret ballot, trial by jury and press freedom. It tracks the changing, hotly disputed meanings of democracy and describes quite a few of the extraordinary characters, many of them long forgotten, who dedicated their lives to building or defending democracy. And it explains why democracy is still potentially the best form of government on earth -- and why democracies everywhere are sleepwalking their way into deep trouble.

Author : Sophia Rosenfeld
Publisher : University of Pennsylvania Press
Page : 221 pages
File Size : 49,5 Mb
Release : 2018-11-29
Category : History
ISBN : 9780812250848

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Democracy and Truth by Sophia Rosenfeld Pdf

"Fake news," wild conspiracy theories, misleading claims, doctored photos, lies peddled as facts, facts dismissed as lies—citizens of democracies increasingly inhabit a public sphere teeming with competing claims and counterclaims, with no institution or person possessing the authority to settle basic disputes in a definitive way. The problem may be novel in some of its details—including the role of today's political leaders, along with broadcast and digital media, in intensifying the epistemic anarchy—but the challenge of determining truth in a democratic world has a backstory. In this lively and illuminating book, historian Sophia Rosenfeld explores a longstanding and largely unspoken tension at the heart of democracy between the supposed wisdom of the crowd and the need for information to be vetted and evaluated by a learned elite made up of trusted experts. What we are witnessing now is the unraveling of the détente between these competing aspects of democratic culture. In four bracing chapters, Rosenfeld substantiates her claim by tracing the history of the vexed relationship between democracy and truth. She begins with an examination of the period prior to the eighteenth-century Age of Revolutions, where she uncovers the political and epistemological foundations of our democratic world. Subsequent chapters move from the Enlightenment to the rise of both populist and technocratic notions of democracy between the nineteenth and twentieth centuries to the troubling trends—including the collapse of social trust—that have led to the rise of our "post-truth" public life. Rosenfeld concludes by offering suggestions for how to defend the idea of truth against the forces that would undermine it.

Author : James Miller
Publisher : Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Page : 320 pages
File Size : 54,5 Mb
Release : 2018-09-18
Category : Political Science
ISBN : 9780374717247

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Can Democracy Work? by James Miller Pdf

A new history of the world’s most embattled idea Today, democracy is the world’s only broadly accepted political system, and yet it has become synonymous with disappointment and crisis. How did it come to this? In Can Democracy Work? James Miller, the author of the classic history of 1960s protest Democracy Is in the Streets, offers a lively, surprising, and urgent history of the democratic idea from its first stirrings to the present. As he shows, democracy has always been rife with inner tensions. The ancient Greeks preferred to choose leaders by lottery and regarded elections as inherently corrupt and undemocratic. The French revolutionaries sought to incarnate the popular will, but many of them came to see the people as the enemy. And in the United States, the franchise would be extended to some even as it was taken from others. Amid the wars and revolutions of the twentieth century, communists, liberals, and nationalists all sought to claim the ideals of democracy for themselves—even as they manifestly failed to realize them. Ranging from the theaters of Athens to the tents of Occupy Wall Street, Can Democracy Work? is an entertaining and insightful guide to our most cherished—and vexed—ideal.

Author : James Heneage
Publisher : The Experiment, LLC
Page : 239 pages
File Size : 48,7 Mb
Release : 2023-03-21
Category : History
ISBN : 9781615199495

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The Shortest History of Greece: The Odyssey of a Nation from Myth to Modernity (Shortest History) by James Heneage Pdf

Discover the cultural and political riches of Greece across 3,000 years, from classical might to modern rebirth. The Shortest History books deliver thousands of years of history in one riveting, fast-paced read. Philosophy, art, democracy, language, even computers—the glories of Greek civilization have shaped our world even more profoundly than we realize. Pericles and the Parthenon may be familiar, but what of Epaminondas, the Theban general who saved the Greek world from Spartan tyranny? Alexander the Great’s fame has rolled down the centuries, but the golden Hellenistic Age that followed is largely forgotten. “Byzantine” conjures decadence and deadly intrigue, yet the thousand-year empire that ruled from Constantinople and saved Europe twice from invasion was, in fact, Greek. Greece’s modern chapter, too, tells of triumph and calamity—from liberation and expansion to schism, homegrown dictatorship, Nazi occupation, and civil war. Today’s nation is battered by austerity, encroaching climate change, and a refugee crisis—yet unwavering in its ancient values. James Heneage captures the full Grecian drama in this riveting, short history, revealing Greece as the wellspring of Western civilization—and a model that may yet save modern democracy.

Author : Bernard Crick
Publisher : OUP Oxford
Page : 144 pages
File Size : 52,8 Mb
Release : 2002-10-10
Category : Political Science
ISBN : 9780191577659

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Democracy: A Very Short Introduction by Bernard Crick Pdf

No political concept is more used, and misused, than that of democracy. Nearly every regime today claims to be democratic, but not all 'democracies' allow free politics, and free politics existed long before democratic franchises. This book is a short account of the history of the doctrine and practice of democracy, from ancient Greece and Rome through the American, French, and Russian revolutions, and of the usages and practices associated with it in the modern world. It argues that democracy is a necessary but not a sufficient condition for good government, and that ideas of the rule of law, and of human rights, should in some situations limit democratic claims. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.

Author : David Runciman
Publisher : Princeton University Press
Page : 424 pages
File Size : 48,8 Mb
Release : 2017-10-31
Category : Political Science
ISBN : 9780691178134

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The Confidence Trap by David Runciman Pdf

Why democracies believe they can survive any crisis—and why that belief is so dangerous Why do democracies keep lurching from success to failure? The current financial crisis is just the latest example of how things continue to go wrong, just when it looked like they were going right. In this wide-ranging, original, and compelling book, David Runciman tells the story of modern democracy through the history of moments of crisis, from the First World War to the economic crash of 2008. A global history with a special focus on the United States, The Confidence Trap examines how democracy survived threats ranging from the Great Depression to the Cuban missile crisis, and from Watergate to the collapse of Lehman Brothers. It also looks at the confusion and uncertainty created by unexpected victories, from the defeat of German autocracy in 1918 to the defeat of communism in 1989. Throughout, the book pays close attention to the politicians and thinkers who grappled with these crises: from Woodrow Wilson, Nehru, and Adenauer to Fukuyama and Obama. In The Confidence Trap, David Runciman shows that democracies are good at recovering from emergencies but bad at avoiding them. The lesson democracies tend to learn from their mistakes is that they can survive them—and that no crisis is as bad as it seems. Breeding complacency rather than wisdom, crises lead to the dangerous belief that democracies can muddle through anything—a confidence trap that may lead to a crisis that is just too big to escape, if it hasn't already. The most serious challenges confronting democracy today are debt, the war on terror, the rise of China, and climate change. If democracy is to survive them, it must figure out a way to break the confidence trap.

Author : John Donald Hicks
Publisher : Unknown
Page : 870 pages
File Size : 48,7 Mb
Release : 1946
Category : United States
ISBN : LCCN:47000305

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A Short History of American Democracy by John Donald Hicks Pdf

Author : Francis Wilson
Publisher : Unknown
Page : 0 pages
File Size : 52,8 Mb
Release : 2011
Category : History
ISBN : 1415201404

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Dinosaurs, Diamonds and Democracy by Francis Wilson Pdf

A full-color, illustrated, super condensed history of South Africa from prehistoric times to the present

Author : Linda Jaivin
Publisher : The Experiment, LLC
Page : 288 pages
File Size : 48,9 Mb
Release : 2021-09-28
Category : History
ISBN : 9781615198214

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The Shortest History of China: From the Ancient Dynasties to a Modern Superpower - A Retelling for Our Times (Shortest History) by Linda Jaivin Pdf

Journey across epic China—through millennia of early innovation to modern dominance. The Shortest History books deliver thousands of years of history in one riveting, fast-paced read. As we enter the “Asian century,” China demands our attention for being an economic powerhouse, a beacon of rapid modernization, and an assertive geopolitical player. To understand the nation behind the headlines, we must take in its vibrant, tumultuous past—a story of “larger-than-life characters, philosophical arguments and political intrigues, military conflicts and social upheavals, artistic invention and technological innovation.” The Shortest History of China charts a path from China’s tribal origins through its storied imperial era and up to the modern Communist Party under Xi Jinping—including the rarely told story of women in China and the specters of corruption and disunity that continue to haunt the People’s Republic today. A master storyteller and exacting historian, Linda Jaivin distills this vast history into a short, riveting account that today’s globally minded readers will find indispensable.

Author : John Zubrzycki
Publisher : Black Inc.
Page : 277 pages
File Size : 54,8 Mb
Release : 2022-05-03
Category : History
ISBN : 9781743822357

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The Shortest History of India by John Zubrzycki Pdf

An illuminating and concise telling of the 5000 years of turbulent history that led India from the ruins of ancient civilisations to emerging global superpower One of the oldest civilisations and the largest democracy in the world, India is an amalgam of customs, races, castes, languages and spiritual beliefs, woven together over 5000 years of wonderfully colossal and chaotic history. From the earliest humans and the Harappan civilisation to Muslim invaders, the Great Mughals, British rule, the country’s struggle for autonomy and present-day hopes and challenges, John Zubrzycki masterfully condenses five millennia of deities, mutinies, wars, great empires, decadent dynasties, invasions, colonisation and independence into a fascinating, lively telling. He brings the complex and contrasting layers of Indian history to life through a well-known cast of characters – Buddha, Alexander the Great, Akbar, Clive, Tipu Sultan, Lakshmi Bai, Curzon, Jinnah and Mahatma Gandhi – against a backdrop of the mystical Ganges, the desert forts of Rajasthan, the snow-covered Himalayas and the ruins of India’s fabled civilisations. From Buddhism to Bollywood, India has made its mark on Asia and the world. Its progress in tackling poverty and illiteracy have been impressive, but extraordinary challenges remain – not least the threat to its secular fabric. Only time will tell if India can overcome its political, social and religious tensions to rise again and become the next global superpower. ‘John Zubrzycki has fashioned an accessible and absorbing portal to the subcontinent’s 5000-year-old history’—The Sydney Morning Herald ‘The Shortest History of India may be a one-day read but it's no small achievement. Nimbly navigating 5000 years of erratic documentation, Zubrzycki's narrative retains its poise, misses little and is a delight to read.’—John Keay Contents: Lost Civilisations Religious Revolutionaries The Classical Age The Coming of Islam The Magnificent Mughals Merchants and Mercenaries The Lighting of the Fuse The Long Road to Freedom Creating the Nation State A 'New India'?

Author : K.S. (Kapil Satish) Komireddi
Publisher : Hurst Publishers
Page : 310 pages
File Size : 40,9 Mb
Release : 2024-03-28
Category : Political Science
ISBN : 9781805261780

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Malevolent Republic by K.S. (Kapil Satish) Komireddi Pdf

After decades of imperfect secularism, presided over by an often corrupt Congress establishment, Nehru’s diverse republic has yielded to Hindu nationalism. India, the first major democracy to fall to demagogic populism in the twenty-first century, is racing to a point of no return. Since 2014, the ruling BJP has unleashed forces that are irreversibly transforming the country. Indian democracy, honed over decades, is now the chief enabler of Hindu extremism. Bigotry has been ennobled as a healthy form of self-assertion. Anti Muslim vitriol has deluged the mainstream. Religious minorities live in terror of a vengeful majority. Congress now mimics Modi; other parties pray for a miracle. In this highly acclaimed critique of post-Independence India from Nehru to Narendra Modi, revised and expanded with a new chapter, K.S. Komireddi charts the dismaying course of the world’s largest democracy. He argues that the missteps of the nation’s founders, the mistakes of Nehru, the betrayals of his daughter and her sons, the anti-democratic fetish for technocracy carried to extremes by Manmohan Singh—all of them prepared the way for Modi’s march to absolute power. If secularists fail to wrest the republic from Hindu supremacists, Komireddi argues, India may go the way of Yugoslavia and collapse under the burden of sinister ethno-religious nationalism. A gripping short history of modern India, Malevolent Republic is also a passionate plea for India’s reclamation.

Author : University Press
Publisher : Independently Published
Page : 54 pages
File Size : 48,5 Mb
Release : 2020-08-25
Category : Electronic
ISBN : 9798678897251

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Democracy by University Press Pdf

University Press returns with another short and captivating book - a brief history of democracy. Democracy is an unperfected means to an admirable end. The English word "democracy" is descended from the ancient Greek words for "people" (demos) and "power" (kratos). The Athenians established this "people power" democracy in their city-state in 507 BC, and, even though theirs was a democracy that denied women and slaves the right to vote, the Athenians provided a model of government for the world to copy, refine, and enhance for the next 2,500 years. Democracy today comes in many forms, faces many challenges, and endures many criticisms. Even Winston Churchill, the great Defender of Democracy, once quipped that "Democracy is the worst form of government - except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time." Yet, democracy continues to hold out the attractive ideal of a more free, fair, inclusive, and just society for billions of people around the world. This short book provides an abbreviated account of the dazzling and devastating events, forces, triumphs, and setbacks that have shaped democracy for millennia - a version that you can read in about an hour.