Homo-Democraticus
This book offers a philosophical and pragmatic defence of the universal value of human rights and democracy. While the defence of universal human rights has a long tradition, this work makes the original case for the universal desirability of democracy itself.
How can we turn the norm of universal democracy and human rights into a fact? This volume applies a political philosophy to key areas like international law, legislation, and global protection mechanisms to show what actions we can take and what instruments we can use.
“Germany and the Imagined East” explores the exchange of views on “the East.” These multidisciplinary essays treat Germany as both part of and separate from this construct, from within the German-speaking world to the Far East, offering new insights on East-West relations.
Global norms are no longer established by states alone, but by new actors like the private sector and NGOs. This collection of critical studies challenges convenient theories to explore the practical, theoretical and ethical implications of this new world.
This volume offers original insights into lesser-known aspects of post-war Italian culture. It provides an interdisciplinary examination of Italian society since WWII, with innovative perspectives on literature, women’s studies, cinema, history, and politics.
State of Exception
In the state of exception, the law is suspended to preserve order, justifying any abuse of power. This book examines the implications of this juridical no-man’s land, focusing on Italy’s history and its cultural and cinematic representations.
This book explores the domestic determinants of Italian policy towards European Political Cooperation (EPC). Highlighting Italy’s Mediterranean links through parliamentary debates and case studies, it provides the first full study of this crucial relationship.
Learning Democratic Practices
This book examines how democracy works by viewing political parties as “communities of practice.” Through interviews with partisans, it shows how they learn to function, revealing what is happening to “democracy” in the United States and how it got that way.
Legitimisation in Political Discourse
How was the “war-on-terror” linguistically legitimised? This book reveals ‘proximization’: the strategy of presenting distant events as a direct, personal threat to persuade a nation to support the war in Iraq.
This collection of essays addresses American culture as a space of tension between conformity and resistance. It gives justice to marginalized voices that have shaped the nation’s uniqueness and proposes possible formulas for a new American identity.
The Paris of the left is an icon, but the Paris of the right has received far less attention. This book examines the relationship between Paris and the right, exploring how political leaders controlled the city and how it inspired right-wing novelists.
This book explores the long-standing, multi-faceted relationship between Scotland and Europe. From a diversity of viewpoints, it illustrates the richness and complexity of the dialogue over the centuries, and underlines the open and dynamic character of Scottish identity.
Leading international scholars examine the uneasy relationship between the Muslim world and the West in the context of the ‘war on terror’. This volume deals with Islamism, militancy, and the vicious cycle of mutual insecurity through theory and case studies.
Interrogating the War on Terror
Is the so-called war on terror justified? This book presents a critique of contemporary war culture, bringing together international political, philosophical, legal, and artistic perspectives to explore the devastating effects of this global conflict.
The Dialectics of Globalization
Harris challenges the view that nation-states define international relations. He argues a transnational capitalist class now heads a unified world system, creating new conflicts as we transition from national to global capitalism.
Beyond the World of Titans, and the Remaking of World Order
Contrary to conventional wisdom, U.S. dominance is ending. The world is evolving towards a ‘post-post-Cold War era’—a world of titans and new empires remaking world order. This shift reveals the future emergence of a ‘union of the unions’ on earth and in space.
Dialogues of Love and Government
This study examines the Boethian dialogue form in Medieval texts on love and government. It links the dialogue to courtly love and Platonic politics, arguing that its irony implies a rejection of absolutist notions of love and government.
Recognition in Politics
With contributions from Nancy Fraser, this collection examines ‘recognition’ in politics. It addresses theoretical and practical problems of identity and justice, casting new light on conflicts in an era of globalisation and cultural diversity.
This rich collection of essays engages with “refusal” as a form of social action and resistance. Ranging from activism to identity, it is an important contribution to our understanding of the tensions and contradictions of contemporary culture.
Arab authoritarian regimes use liberalisation as a tool to avoid democracy. But what if these self-serving reforms backfire? This book analyses how policies meant to strengthen authoritarian rule may unintentionally destabilise it, leading to democracy by accident.