{"product_id":"passions-and-constraint-on-the-theory-of-liberal-democracy-paperback","title":"Passions and Constraint: On the Theory of Liberal Democracy - Paperback","description":"\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cp style=\"text-align: right;\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/reportcopyrightinfringement.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eReport copyright infringement\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cp\u003eby \u003cb\u003eStephen Holmes\u003c\/b\u003e (Author)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn this collection of essays on the core values of liberalism, Stephen Holmes-noted for his scathing reviews of books by liberalism's opponents-challenges commonly held assumptions about liberal theory. By placing it into its original historical context, \u003ci\u003ePassions and Constraints\u003c\/i\u003e presents an interconnected argument meant to fundamentally change the way we conceive of liberalism. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e According to Holmes, three elements of classical liberal theory are commonly used to attack contemporary liberalism as antagonistic to genuine democracy and the welfare state: constitutional constraints on majority rule, the identification of individual freedom with an absence of government involvement, and a strong emphasis on the principle of self-interest. Through insightful essays on Hobbes's analysis of the English Civil War in \u003ci\u003eBehemoth\u003c\/i\u003e, Bodin's writings on the benefits of limited government, and Mill's views on science and politics, Holmes shows that these basic principles provide, to the contrary, a necessary foundation for the development of democratic, regulatory, and redistributionist politics in the modern era. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e Holmes argues that the aspirations of liberal democracy-including individual liberty, the equal dignity of citizens, and a tolerance for diversity-are best understood in relation to two central themes of classical liberal theory: the psychological motivations of individuals and the necessary constraint on individual passions provided by institutions. Paradoxically, Holmes argues that such institutional restraints serve to enable, rather than limit, effective democracy. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e In explorations of subjects ranging from self-interest to majoritarianism to \"gag rules,\" Holmes shows that limited government can be more powerful than unlimited government-indeed, that liberalism is one of the most effective philosophies of state building ever contrived. By restricting the arbitrary powers of government officials, Holmes states, a liberal constitution can increase the state's capacity to focus on specific problems and mobilize collective resources for common purposes. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ci\u003ePassions and Constraint\u003c\/i\u003e is an assessment of what that tradition has meant and what it can mean today.\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNumber of Pages:\u003c\/strong\u003e 352\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 0.91 x 9.02 x 6.01 IN\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublication Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e June 08, 1997\u003c\/div\u003e\n            ","brand":"BooksCloud","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45260011536486,"sku":"9780226349695","price":72.52,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0599\/7255\/0758\/files\/N1Y5VHJkQWxNdXBXbkFyTlRJVkVUUT09.webp?v=1773863432","url":"https:\/\/infinitylightwa.com\/products\/passions-and-constraint-on-the-theory-of-liberal-democracy-paperback","provider":"Infinity Light","version":"1.0","type":"link"}