Militant Democracy and Its Critics: Populism, Parties, Extremism

Review
This is a timely book, as fascist and anti-democratic parties are on the rise in many democratic countries. The authors of the essays in this excellent collection devise some powerful arguments that shake our beliefs and challenge our convictions regarding the potential for a constructive politics springing from participation.
, Nadia Urbinati, Columbia University
Militant Democracy refers to the defensive policies democracies use to respond to antidemocratic movements. Can defensive efforts that curtail rights of participation be consistent with democratic values? In this collection of essays, scholars from across politics, philosophy and law address the unresolved practical and theoretical questions concerning democracy and extremism. The collection provides an update to a key contemporary debate in democratic theory and asks us to reconsider the potential promise and costs of militant democracy.
From the Inside Flap
Should representative governments restrict the democratic rights of their extremist opponents?Militant Democracy refers to the defensive policies democracies use to respond to antidemocratic movements. Can defensive efforts that curtail rights of participation be consistent with democratic values? In this collection of essays, scholars from across politics, philosophy and law address the unresolved practical and theoretical questions concerning democracy and extremism. The collection provides an update to a key contemporary debate in democratic theory and asks us to reconsider the potential promise and costs of militant democracy.Anthoula Malkopoulou is Docent and Lecturer in the Department of Government at Uppsala University.Alexander Kirshner is Associate Professor of Political Science at Duke University.
From the Back Cover
Should representative governments restrict the democratic rights of their extremist opponents? Militant Democracy refers to the defensive policies democracies use to respond to antidemocratic movements. Can defensive efforts that curtail rights of participation be consistent with democratic values? In this collection of essays, scholars from across politics, philosophy and law address the unresolved practical and theoretical questions concerning democracy and extremism. The collection provides an update to a key contemporary debate in democratic theory and asks us to reconsider the potential promise and costs of militant democracy. Anthoula Malkopoulou is Docent and Lecturer in the Department of Government at Uppsala University. Alexander Kirshner is Associate Professor of Political Science at Duke University.