Citizenship in a Fragile World

(Paperback)

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Traditional conceptions of citizenship have dealt almost exclusively with political life within one state. But the internationalization of so much economic, cultural, and political life today presents new opportunities and problemsincluding the potential to extinguish human life. Taking these new features as a point of departure, Dauenhauer exposes the flaws in standard communitarian and liberal democratic theory, focusing on the work of Charles Taylor, John Rawls, and Jrgen Habermas. He articulates a concept of 'complex citizenship' that recognizes citizens' responsibilities beyond borders, and shows its fruitfulness for educating children and dealing with foreign states and their peoples.

Reviews

Citizenship in a Fragile World. . . is a brave effort to confront a problem in democratic theory around which others too often merely mince. -- Katherine Fierlbeck * American Political Science Review *
By proposing a new and more adequate concept of the political agent, Dauenhauer challenges both the liberal and the communitarian schools of democratic political thought and raises current debate to a new level. A remarkable achievement, perceptive and timely. -- Thomas R. Flynn, Emory University
With judiciousness and wisdom, Dauenhauer diagnoses and offers solutions to what is perhaps the central problem of the coming century: citizenship. Because this insightful book is willing to grapple with such controversial issues, it will contribute significantly to the vital conversation about the future of democracies in a dangerous time. -- Michael E. Zimmerman, professor of philosophy, University of Colorado at Boulder
. . . book is a thoughtful, provocative, rewarding essay in philosophy, political community, and citizenship. * Choice Reviews *

Author Bio

Bernard P. Dauenhauer is university professor and professor of philosophy at the University of Georgia. Among his several books are The Politics of Hope and Silence: The Phenomenon and its Ontological Significance.