Philosophical Perspectives on Democracy in the Twenty-First Century: Introduction

Abstract

Recent global movements, including the Arab Spring, the Occupy Movement, as well as polarizing events in the US, such as the Citizens United ruling, invite a rethinking of the meaning, desirability, and feasibility of democracy in the twenty-first century. Technological changes have increased democratic participation, but have yet to improve democratic deliberation. Ideological differences have engendered incivility and unwillingness to compromise. Philosophical reflection offers opportunities not only to scrutinize the implications of these changes for democracy but also to reevaluate the nature and meaning of the core concepts of political theory. This chapter interprets the contemporary context of democracy in light of recent developments, and offers an overview of the issues considered in the chapters of this book.