The Civic Bargain

Mehr zum Buch

Is democracy in trouble? Many believe it is, with polls indicating that Americans feel their governance is under threat. However, Brook Manville and Josiah Ober challenge this pessimism, presenting a hopeful vision for democratic renewal. They advocate for a "civic bargain" among citizens to uphold the rights of freedom, equality, and dignity, emphasizing the importance of fulfilling the responsibilities of democratic citizenship. This includes self-governance without a "boss," embracing compromise, treating each other as civic friends, and investing in civic education for future generations. The authors explore the evolution of self-government through four pivotal moments in history: Classical Athens, Republican Rome, Great Britain's constitutional monarchy, and America's founding. By analyzing successes and failures in these examples, they extract valuable lessons for contemporary democracies. They argue that democracy is not about satisfying individual desires but about establishing a shared framework for addressing conflicting aims. Essential to this process is the ability to compromise and to view one another as collaborators rather than adversaries. Acknowledging that democracy is an ongoing journey, Manville and Ober assert that as long as the civic bargain is upheld through deliberation and compromise, democracy can thrive.