Passions and Constraint
Author | : Stephen Holmes |
Publisher | : University of Chicago Press |
Total Pages | : 360 |
Release | : 1995-06 |
ISBN-10 | : 0226349683 |
ISBN-13 | : 9780226349688 |
Rating | : 4/5 (83 Downloads) |
Download or read book Passions and Constraint written by Stephen Holmes and published by University of Chicago Press. This book was released on 1995-06 with total page 360 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 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 constraints on individual passions provided by robust institutions. Paradoxically, Holmes argues, such institutional restraints serve to enable, rather than limit or dilute, effective democracy.