Explore 'The Civic Bargain,' a seminal work by Brook Manville and Josiah Ober that addresses the pressing question of democracy's future. In a time when many believe democracy is under siege, this book presents a compelling argument that it can not only survive but thrive when citizens actively engage in a renewed commitment to democratic principles. The authors articulate the concept of a 'civic bargain'—a mutual agreement among citizens to uphold values like freedom, equality, and dignity while fulfilling their responsibilities as active participants in governance. This foundational text invites readers to view democracy not as a failing system, but as a dynamic process that requires continual renewal through civic engagement and education.

The Civic Bargain analyzes pivotal moments in the history of democracy, drawing lessons from Classical Athens, Republican Rome, Great Britain's constitutional monarchy, and America's founding principles. By reflecting on these historical frameworks, readers will gain insight into the importance of compromise and the necessity of treating fellow citizens as collaborators rather than adversaries in the democratic process. Manville and Ober inspire us to confront modern challenges through a lens that emphasizes cooperation and shared governance.

Condition: BRAND NEW
ISBN: 9780691218601
Format: Trade binding
Year: 2024
Publisher: Princeton University Press
Note: Shipping for this item is free. Please allow up to 6 weeks for delivery. Once your order is placed, it cannot be cancelled.

Note: Shipping for this item is free. Please allow up to 6 weeks for delivery. Once your order is placed, it cannot be cancelled.
Condition: BRAND NEW
ISBN: 9780691218601
Format: Trade binding
Year: 2024
Publisher: Princeton University Press


Description:


A powerful case for democracy and how it can adapt and survive — if we want it to.

Is democracy in trouble, perhaps even dying? Pundits say so, and polls show that most Americans believe that their country’s system of governance is being 'tested' or is 'under attack'. But is the future of democracy necessarily so dire? In The Civic Bargain, Brook Manville and Josiah Ober push back against the prevailing pessimism about the fate of democracy around the world. Instead of an epitaph for democracy, they offer a guide for democratic renewal, calling on citizens to recommit to a 'civic bargain' with one another to guarantee civic rights of freedom, equality, and dignity. That bargain also requires them to fulfil the duties of democratic citizenship: governing themselves with no 'boss' except one another, embracing compromise, treating each other as civic friends, and investing in civic education for each rising generation.

Manville and Ober trace the long progression toward self-government through four key moments in democracy’s history: Classical Athens, Republican Rome, Great Britain’s constitutional monarchy, and America’s founding. Comparing what worked and what failed in each case, they draw out lessons for how modern democracies can survive and thrive. Manville and Ober show that democracy isn’t about getting everything we want; it’s about agreeing on a shared framework for pursuing our often conflicting aims. Crucially, citizens need to be able to compromise, and must not treat one another as political enemies. And we must accept imperfection; democracy is never finished but evolves and renews itself contin