Hegel’s Civic Republicanism

This chapter evaluates the neoconservative anti-Trumpers who view the Trump presidency as a betrayal of America's founding principles. These detractors have been especially critical of nationalist populism and its rejection of “globalist” policies like free trade, foreign interventionism, and immigration. The chapter argues that neoconservatives misunderstand America's principles as a nation because they have relied heavily on certain sources, starting with the view of the American founding taught by the followers of Leo Strauss. This view overemphasizes Lockean natural rights and the merits of commercial acquisitiveness. Absent from this neoconservative analysis is an appreciation of three tenets of James Madison's political thinking, each of which accords with nationalist populism: civic republicanism, intergenerational duty to ancestors and posterity, and a warning that too much diversity will lead to a plutocratic oppression of society through a politics of divide and conquer. Although neoconservatives may have personal reasons to criticize the presidency of Donald Trump, their argument from the American founding is not particularly convincing.

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7. Citizenship Theory

Contemporary Political Philosophy ◽

10.1093/hepl/9780198782742.003.0007 ◽

2001 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Will Kymlicka

Keyword(s):

Political Participation ◽

Intrinsic Value ◽

Civic Virtue ◽

Democratic Citizenship ◽

Liberal Society ◽

Classical View ◽

Civic Republicanism ◽

The Family ◽

Theories Of Justice ◽

Civic Virtues

This chapter examines theories of citizenship as an important supplement to, rather than a replacement for, theories of justice. It first considers what sorts of virtues and practices are said to be required by democratic citizenship, focusing on two different forms of civic republicanism: a classical view which emphasizes the intrinsic value of political participation, and a liberal view which emphasizes its instrumental importance. The chapter then explains how liberal states can try to promote the appropriate forms of citizenship virtues and practices. It also discusses the seedbeds of civic virtue, taking into account a variety of aspects of liberal society that can be seen as inculcating civic virtues, including the market, civic associations, and the family. It concludes with an analysis of the politics of civic republicanism.

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Greening Civic Republicanism II: A Green Republican Economy, Sustainability Service, and Agonistic Politics

The Politics of Actually Existing UnsustainabilityHuman Flourishing in a Climate-Changed, Carbon Constrained World ◽

10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199695393.003.0008 ◽

2012 ◽

pp. 236-273

Author(s):

John Barry

Keyword(s):

Civic Republicanism

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Radical democracy

Thinking Collectively ◽

10.1332/policypress/9781447346890.003.0007 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 115-130

Author(s):

Paul Spicker

Keyword(s):

Collective Action ◽

Common Good ◽

Civic Virtue ◽

Radical Democracy ◽

Political Community ◽

Active Citizenship ◽

The Common Good ◽

Civic Republicanism ◽

Good Citizenship ◽

The Common

The model of civic republicanism is associated with a range of principles: a concept of the common good, citizenship, a presumption of civic virtue and freedom. The idea of radical democracy is strongly associated with a sense of active citizenship, engagement in a political community and collective action. At times, however, it tips into populism, which claims to pit a virtuous people against a corrupt elite, but risks bringing radical democracy into disrepute.

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