A Study in Transborder Ethics

A renewed approach to democratic ethics is needed, one that takes into consideration the management of complexity and memory in a global world. The expansion of democratic ethics for the stewardship of a postnational, postmetaphysical, and postsecular world is the object of this book. It takes as its point of departure current proposals for global democratic justice, but extends these by incorporating contemporary European ideas on border and existential ethics. The privilege of democratic citizenship includes our conscious involvement with our historical destinies, and with others whom we inevitably encounter on our journey of contemporary politics. A post-heroic approach to democratic ethics, one which takes violence and injustice seriously, yet understands the constraints posed on us as historical beings, is necessary. The practices of civility, such as they arise from a normative democratic universe and the ever-increasing role of civil society, can be harnessed for a transborder ethics. The examination of a contemporary democratic anthropology that includes a phenomenology of violence further clarifies the importance of intersubjective processes of encounter, dialogue, and recognition.

Autorentext

Geneviève Souillac occupies a senior position as University Researcher at the Tampere Peace Research Institute (TAPRI) at the University of Tampere, Finland. Previously, she was Senior Associate Professor of Philosophy and Peace Studies at the International Christian University of Japan, and Academic Associate at the United Nations University's Peace and Governance Programme in Tokyo. Earlier, she lectured at the University of Sydney's Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies in Australia. Her other publications include «Human rights in crisis. The Sacred and the Secular in contemporary French Thought,» and «The Burden of Democracy. The claims of cultures, Public culture, and Democratic Memory.»

Zusammenfassung
«This is a book about the unrelinquishable hope for democracy, despite the disenchantment with it expressed by some. By keenly perceiving and corroboratively investigating into the growth of democratic ethics as well as democratic justice, the author tries to locate the openings onto a post-heroic world where more civility and less violence would prevail. The readers should share the author's concept of deterritorialization of values and sense of legitimacy before they give up hope for a better, mutually convivial world.» (Toshiki Mogami, Professor of International Law, Waseda University, Tokyo, Japan)
«It is imperative that citizens of different nation states start thinking in terms of a post-national global ethics that will reinforce the never ending quest for a more just and peaceful world. This book is a powerful contribution to this project. Souillac advances a compelling case for expanding democratic ethics across borders and boundaries of cultural, ethnic and national difference. This is a book that needs to be read by anyone interested in building an effective global civic culture and a culture of peace.» (Kevin P. Clements, Director of The national centre for Peace and Conflict Studies, University of Otago, New Zealand)
«Geneviève Souillac has clearly set an example with this book, which is a beautiful invitation to fight for a globalised democracy!» (Michel Theys, Bulletin Quotidien Europe 04/2013)

Inhalt
Contents: Transborder ethics Global justice Contemporary democratic ethics Future Studies Peace Studies Critique of modernity Democratic anthropology.