4.0
The Democracy Project
By David GraeberPublisher Description
A bold rethinking of the most powerful political idea in the world—democracy—and the story of how radical democracy can yet transform America, from the co-author of The Dawn of Everything
Democracy has been the American religion since before the Revolution—from New England town halls to the multicultural democracy of Atlantic pirate ships. But can our current political system, one that seems responsive only to the wealthiest among us and leaves most Americans feeling disengaged, voiceless, and disenfranchised, really be called democratic? And if the tools of our democracy are not working to solve the rising crises we face, how can we—average citizens—make change happen?
David Graeber, one of the most influential scholars and activists of his generation, takes readers on a journey through the idea of democracy, provocatively reorienting our understanding of pivotal historical moments, and extracts their lessons for today—from the birth of Athenian democracy and the founding of the United States of America to the global revolutions of the twentieth century and the rise of a new generation of activists. Underlying it all is a bracing argument that in the face of increasingly concentrated wealth and power in this country, a reenergized, reconceived democracy—one based on consensus, equality, and broad participation—can yet provide us with the just, free, and fair society we want.
The Democracy Project tells the story of the resilience of the democratic spirit and the adaptability of the democratic idea. It offers a fresh take on vital history and an impassioned argument that radical democracy is, more than ever, our best hope.
Democracy has been the American religion since before the Revolution—from New England town halls to the multicultural democracy of Atlantic pirate ships. But can our current political system, one that seems responsive only to the wealthiest among us and leaves most Americans feeling disengaged, voiceless, and disenfranchised, really be called democratic? And if the tools of our democracy are not working to solve the rising crises we face, how can we—average citizens—make change happen?
David Graeber, one of the most influential scholars and activists of his generation, takes readers on a journey through the idea of democracy, provocatively reorienting our understanding of pivotal historical moments, and extracts their lessons for today—from the birth of Athenian democracy and the founding of the United States of America to the global revolutions of the twentieth century and the rise of a new generation of activists. Underlying it all is a bracing argument that in the face of increasingly concentrated wealth and power in this country, a reenergized, reconceived democracy—one based on consensus, equality, and broad participation—can yet provide us with the just, free, and fair society we want.
The Democracy Project tells the story of the resilience of the democratic spirit and the adaptability of the democratic idea. It offers a fresh take on vital history and an impassioned argument that radical democracy is, more than ever, our best hope.
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Meet readers like you in the Fable For You feed, designed to build bookish communities11 Reviews
4.0
Haneen Bendary
Created 3 months agoShare
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Uki
Created about 1 year agoShare
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Alyssa
Created about 1 year agoShare
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“I read this hoping to learn more about the history of democracy and our current state of democracy. Mostly I just got an argument about why we should all be anarchists and a defense of the Occupy movement. There were some interesting points and it certainty challenged a lot of my assumptions—I especially liked that Graeber addressed how most Americans merely think democracy = voting even though that most certainly is not accurate—but overall it was not my cup of tea.
Would probably be more helpful for people interested in political/grassroots organizing.”
jacky.wtf
Created over 1 year agoShare
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“This book actually gave me way more insight into America (the making of the Bill of Rights was done out of protest of the earliest forms of liberalism - which is scary given how neoliberalism dictates politics today - from policing to tech, women's rights to that of trans people) and into the truly false narrative that playing into electoral politics has with maintaining this very false image we have of this place. Graeber isn't the easiest to read, but this is definitely one of his more approachable books. You'll end up wanting to read Debt (take a month off to do so).”
About David Graeber
David Graeber was a professor of anthropology at the London School of Economics. He is the author of Debt: The First 5,000 Years and Bullshit Jobs: A Theory, and was a contributor to Harper’s Magazine, The Guardian, and The Baffler. An iconic thinker and renowned activist, his early efforts in Zuccotti Park made Occupy Wall Street an era-defining movement. He died on September 2, 2020.
Other books by David Graeber
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