Argues that the world's democracies are failing to live up to their ideals - the United States and Great Britain most especially. The core value of democracy, the author contends, is freedom, the freedom to live a good life according to one's own choosing. He offers a bold defense of democratic ideals, grounded in real reforms.
The Chinese system is like no other known to man, now or in history. This book explains how the system works and where it may be moving. Drawing on Chinese and international sources, on extensive collaboration with Chinese scholars, and on the political science of state analysis, Stein Ringen concludes that under the new leadership of Xi Jinping, the system of government has been transformed into a new regime radically harder and more ideological than the legacy of Deng Xiaoping. China is less strong economically and more dictatorial politically than the world has wanted to believe. By analyzing the leadership of Xi Jinping, the meaning of "socialist market economy," corruption, the party-state apparatus, the reach of the party, the mechanisms of repression, taxation and public services, and state-society relations, "The Perfect Dictatorship" broadens the field of China studies, as well as the fields of political economy, comparative politics, development, and welfare state studies.
Focusing on over 1,200 years of history, Stein Ringen explores the intricate narrative of Scandinavia, detailing its political evolution, economic fluctuations, and the influence of notable figures such as kings and queens. The book delves into the region's crises, wars, and peace, while also highlighting the development of language and culture, offering a comprehensive look at the forces that shaped Scandinavia into what it is today.
Exploring the future of reform democracy, the author addresses provocative questions such as children's voting rights and class inequality. Emphasizing that real democracies are inherently imperfect, he cautions against the pursuit of unattainable perfection. The work advocates for a rationality rooted in restrained self-interest and civic spirit, merging conservative values of family and personal responsibility with the ideals of radical reform. This thought-provoking analysis challenges readers to reconsider the foundations and aspirations of democratic governance.
An epic new history of Scandinavia, from the Viking Age to the present day
Times have not been kind to democracy. This book is in its defense.In the new century, the triumph of democracy at the end of the Cold War turned to retrenchment. The core democracies, in America and Britain, succumbed to polarization and misrule. Dictatorships, such as China, made themselves assertive. New democracies in Central Europe turned to muddled ideologies of “illiberal democracy.” In this book, Stein Ringen offers a meditation on what democracy is, the challenges it faces, and how it can be defended. Ringen argues that democracy must be rooted in a culture that supports the ability of citizens to exchange views and information among themselves and with their rulers.Drawing on the ideas of Machiavelli, Aristotle, Tocqueville, Max Weber, and others, Ringen shows how power is the fuel of government, and statecraft turns power into effective rule. Democracy should prize freedom and minimizing unfairness, especially poverty. Altogether, Ringen offers powerful insight on the meaning of democracy, including a new definition, and how countries can improve upon it and make it function more effectively. Timely and thought-provoking, How Democracies Live is a sober reminder of the majesty of the democratic enterprise.
Politolog Stein Ringen z Oxfordské univerzity nabízí čtenářům provokativní zamyšlení nad principy demokratického vládnutí: jak vláda přiměje občany, aby respektovali její autoritu? Každá vláda musí prosazovat i nepopulární opatření, od výběru daní přes vymáhání práva po dodržování předpisů. Podle Ringena na to však síla nestačí; občané musejí být ochotní se podřídit a nechat se vést. Autor tento politický rébus rozplétá bez rozpaků, na příkladu Spojených států a Velké Británie břitce a přesvědčivě demonstruje, jak se vytváří a udržuje národní kultura poslušnosti. Ukazuje, jakými cestami se musejí vydat vůdci, kteří chtějí vládnout pomocí autority spíše než pomocí síly a kteří chtějí, řečeno s Immanuelem Kantem, „udržet pořádek v národě ďáblů“.
