Violence and DemocracyCambridge University Press, 2004 M06 24 - 218 pages In this provocative book, first published in 2004, John Keane calls for a fresh understanding of the vexed relationship between democracy and violence. Taking issue with the common sense view that 'human nature' is violent, Keane shows why mature democracies do not wage war upon each other, and why they are unusually sensitive to violence. He argues that we need to think more discriminatingly about the origins of violence, its consequences, its uses and remedies. He probes the disputed meanings of the term violence, and asks why violence is the greatest enemy of democracy, and why today's global 'triangle of violence' is tempting politicians to invoke undemocratic emergency powers. Throughout, Keane gives prominence to ethical questions, such as the circumstances in which violence can be justified, and argues that violent behaviour and means of violence can and should be 'democratised' - made publicly accountable to others, so encouraging efforts to erase surplus violence from the world. |
Contents
Muskets terrorists | 15 |
Thinking violence | 30 |
Civilisation | 42 |
Barbarism? | 54 |
Why violence? | 89 |
Uncivil wars | 109 |
Ethics | 128 |
Ten rules for democratising violence | 165 |
| 210 | |
| 214 | |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
acts of violence Adam Michnik Al-Ghannouchi American arguably armed armies audiences barbarism become body bombs century citizens civil soci civilians civilising process Cold War conflict crime cruelty dangerous death defend democ democratic democratisation despite effects Elias enemy Enzensberger especially essay ethical Europe European fear force forms of violence genocide Georg Elser George Orwell Gérard Prunier Global Civil Society groups Hannah Arendt Hans Magnus Enzensberger human humility images individuals institutions Islam Islamists John Keane judgements justice kill Landmines lence live London means of violence ment military modern moral movement murder Muslim non-violent Norbert Elias nuclear weapons organised Orwell pacifism peace police political potentially principle publicly accountable Qur'an rape René Girard rule shame social Sorel strategy struggle suffer territorial terrorism terrorist tion trend triangle of violence uncivil wars victims violated violence violence and democracy York zones
Popular passages
Page 216 - Behemoth : The History of the Causes of the Civil Wars of England, and of the Counsels and Artifices by which they were carried on, from the Year 1640 to the Year 1660.