‘A timely and genuine contribution to the discussion of
republicanism
. distinctive.’
Richard Dagger, Arizona State University
‘Combining a lucid and accessible style with considerable sophistication
of thought, Civic Republicanism will be both helpful to
students and stimulating to scholars.’
John Horton, University of Keele
London: Routledge, 2002. - 224 p.
Civic republicanism has emerged as a leading alteative to liberalism
in dealing with the political challenges presented by the
diversity and increasing interdependence of contemporary societies.
It recognises that realising freedom requires strong political structures
supported by active, public-spirited citizens.
Iseult Honohan here presents a critical interpretation of its
central themes – civic virtue, freedom, participation and recognition
– and of the different ways in which these have been understood
and combined in different strands of civic republicanism.
In Part I she traces its development from classical antecedents
such as Aristotle and Cicero to its flowering with Machiavelli and
Harrington, and to the diverse responses to modeity advanced by
Rousseau, Wollstonecraft and Madison. She highlights the roots of
the contemporary revival in the work of Hannah Arendt and
Charles Taylor.
In Part II Honohan engages with current debates surrounding
civic republicanism as an attractive way forward in a world of
cultural diversity, global interdependence, inequality and environmental
risk. What is the nature of the common good? What does it
mean to put public before private interests? What does political
freedom mean, and what are the implications for the political institutions
and practices of a republic?
Civic Republicanism is an ideal text for students of politics and
philosophy, and also valuable for those studying this important
topic in related disciplines such as history and law.
Iseult Honohan teaches Political Theory in the Department of
Politics, University College Dublin.
. distinctive.’
Richard Dagger, Arizona State University
‘Combining a lucid and accessible style with considerable sophistication
of thought, Civic Republicanism will be both helpful to
students and stimulating to scholars.’
John Horton, University of Keele
London: Routledge, 2002. - 224 p.
Civic republicanism has emerged as a leading alteative to liberalism
in dealing with the political challenges presented by the
diversity and increasing interdependence of contemporary societies.
It recognises that realising freedom requires strong political structures
supported by active, public-spirited citizens.
Iseult Honohan here presents a critical interpretation of its
central themes – civic virtue, freedom, participation and recognition
– and of the different ways in which these have been understood
and combined in different strands of civic republicanism.
In Part I she traces its development from classical antecedents
such as Aristotle and Cicero to its flowering with Machiavelli and
Harrington, and to the diverse responses to modeity advanced by
Rousseau, Wollstonecraft and Madison. She highlights the roots of
the contemporary revival in the work of Hannah Arendt and
Charles Taylor.
In Part II Honohan engages with current debates surrounding
civic republicanism as an attractive way forward in a world of
cultural diversity, global interdependence, inequality and environmental
risk. What is the nature of the common good? What does it
mean to put public before private interests? What does political
freedom mean, and what are the implications for the political institutions
and practices of a republic?
Civic Republicanism is an ideal text for students of politics and
philosophy, and also valuable for those studying this important
topic in related disciplines such as history and law.
Iseult Honohan teaches Political Theory in the Department of
Politics, University College Dublin.