Is Democracy Possible Here?

Politics in America are polarized and trivialized. This title identifies and defends core principles of personal and political morality that various citizens can share. It shows that recognizing such shared principles can make substantial political argument possible and help replace contempt with mutual respect.

"Ronald Dworkin's latest masterpiece . . . will appeal to anyone interested in learning more about the current state of American politics. As well, it will also appeal to anyone interested in political pedagogy and contemporary politics. Here, they will find a rich source of material regarding the social and political debates of this time. Dworkin has succeeded in providing an historical context for his two core principles of American democracy, and his account of the current lack of debate within the public sphere will bring new frontiers of inquiry to readers of all political, legal, and moral backgrounds. This is a book that deserves thoughtful consideration and engaged response; I highly recommend it."---Stephanie Zubcic Stacey, European Legacy

Auteur

Ronald Dworkin (1931-2013), winner of the 2007 Ludvig Holberg International Memorial Prize, was the author of many books, including Sovereign Virtue, Freedom's Law, and Life's Dominion. He was the Frank Henry Sommer Professor of Law at New York University and the Bentham Professor of Jurisprudence at University College London.

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"In Is Democracy Possible Here? Ronald Dworkin throws down the gauntlet to conservatives. He articulates a compelling bipartisan account of the abstract principles that govern political decisions and he then argues, trenchantly, that those very principles condemn the conservative agenda. Breathtaking in its conception and peppered with shocking observations about current U.S. domestic and foreign policy, Dworkin's book provides a challenge that conservatives simply cannot ignore. Has he misidentified the
principles or misunderstood their implications? The naysayers had better have an answer."--Michael Smith, Princeton University

"Ronald Dworkin is indisputably among the world's leading legal and political philosophers. Here, he tackles major issues of political life in our time and offers challenging analysis and practical conclusions. Writing for a wide audience, he pulls together diverse perspectives in relation to pressing problems and presents difficult ideas in striking and provocative form."--Kent Greenawalt, Columbia University School of Law

Contenu
Acknowledgments ix Preface xi Chapter 1: Common Ground 1 Chapter 2: Terrorism and Human Rights 24 Chapter 3: Religion and Dignity 52 Chapter 4: Taxes and Legitimacy 90 Chapter 5: Is Democracy Possible? 127 Epilogue 160 Notes 165 Index 171