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Democracy May Not Exist, But We'll Miss It When It's Gone

Astra Taylor

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Democracy May Not Exist, But We'll Miss It When It's Gone

by Astra Taylor
Democracy May Not Exist, But We'll Miss It When It's Gone - Thryft
Democracy May Not Exist, But We'll Miss It When It's Gone - Thryft

Unveiling the illusions and contradictions of democracy.

This book is a thought-provoking exploration that challenges our assumptions about democracy. With philosophical depth and captivating anecdotes, Astra Taylor sheds light on the inherent paradoxes and unrecognized contradictions within democracy. Through interviews with leading thinkers and analysis of historical events, Taylor invites us to question what democracy truly means. If you're interested in understanding the complexities and limitations of democratic systems, this book is a must-read.

Note: While we do our best to ensure the accuracy of cover images, ISBNs may at times be reused for different editions of the same title which may hence appear as a different cover.

Democracy May Not Exist, But We'll Miss It When It's Gone

by Astra Taylor
Condition guide

Book Condition Guide

Books in Like New Condition

This book may contain very minor cosmetic defects, but it is in pristine condition. There should be no yellowing, no foxing, no water damage, and no annotations of any kind on the cover and the pages. For paperbacks, there should not be any crease marks on the spine. This book is good as new — lucky you!

*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.

Books in Very Good Condition

This book has been used, but it is still in a clean condition. There should be no foxing or annotations of any kind on the inner pages, but a sparse amount may be present on the cover, title pages, or outside edges of the book. There should be no water damage of any kind. For paperbacks, there may be light crease marks on the spine.

*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.

Books in Good Condition

We do our best to ensure the quality of our books, but there is no escaping the wear and tear that comes with time. Slight foxing and some annotations may be present on the pages and the cover. There should be no water damage of any kind. For paperbacks, there may be several crease marks on the spine.

*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.

Books in Well Read Condition

This is a well-read book, which means that the previous owner probably really enjoyed it! The cover and pages may include moderate foxing and annotations, but the text is not obscured and still readable. Moderate cosmetic defects and minor water damage may be present on the edges of the book. For paperbacks, there may be multiple crease marks on the spine.

*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.

 

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ISBN: 9781250179845
Author: Astra Taylor
Publisher: Metropolitan Books
Date of Publication: 2019-05-07
Format: Hardcover
Related Collections: Philosophy, Politics, History, Creative Nonfiction, Sociology
Related Topics: History, Government, Political Science, History, Sociology, Social Justice, Politics, Essays, Social Justice, Politics, History
Goodreads rating: 4.24
(rated by 588 readers)

Description

What is democracy really? What do we mean when we use the term? And can it ever truly exist? Astra Taylor, hailed as a "New Civil Rights Leader" (LA Times), provides surprising answers.There is no shortage of democracy, at least in name, and yet it is in crisis everywhere we look. From a cabal of thieving plutocrats in the White House to rising inequality and xenophobia worldwide, it is clear that democracy--specifically the principle of government by and for the people--is not living up to its promise.In Democracy May Not Exist, but We'll Miss It When It's Gone, Astra Taylor shows that real democracy--fully inclusive and completely egalitarian--has in fact never existed. In a tone that is both philosophical and anecdotal, weaving together history, theory, the stories of individuals, and conversations with such leading thinkers as Cornel West, Danielle Allen, and Wendy Brown, Taylor invites us to reexamine the term. Is democracy a means or an end, a process or a set of desired outcomes? What if the those outcomes, whatever they may be--peace, prosperity, equality, liberty, an engaged citizenry--can be achieved by non-democratic means? Or if an election leads to a terrible outcome? If democracy means rule by the people, what does it mean to rule and who counts as the people?The inherent paradoxes are too often unnamed and unrecognized. By teasing them out, Democracy May Not Exist, but We'll Miss It When It's Gone offers a better understanding of what is possible, what we want, and why democracy is so hard to realize.
 

Unveiling the illusions and contradictions of democracy.

This book is a thought-provoking exploration that challenges our assumptions about democracy. With philosophical depth and captivating anecdotes, Astra Taylor sheds light on the inherent paradoxes and unrecognized contradictions within democracy. Through interviews with leading thinkers and analysis of historical events, Taylor invites us to question what democracy truly means. If you're interested in understanding the complexities and limitations of democratic systems, this book is a must-read.

Note: While we do our best to ensure the accuracy of cover images, ISBNs may at times be reused for different editions of the same title which may hence appear as a different cover.

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