Publisher's Synopsis
En tiempos de noticias falsas y verdades a medias, el poder radical de la democracia es mÁs importante que nunca. Este cÉlebre teÓrico sociopolÍtico nos revela la fascinante historia de tras de todo. Desde sus inicios en Siria-Mesopotamia-y no en Atenas-a su rol en la revoluciÓn francesa y estadounidense. La democracia ha puesto de cabeza a sistemas establecidos de control para introducirnos a nuevas maneras de disfrutar del poder y el privilegio. La democracia exige lo radical: uniÓn, igualdad y equidad. John Keane nos presenta la historia iluminante de la democracia, desde sus indicios bizantinos, su rol en Atenas, el nacimiento de la democracia electoral y representativa en Europa, a nuestra democracia moderna. Keane propone nuevas ideas que revelan el regalo global que es la democracia. Conforme el mundo se va organizando de manera democrÁtica, el estilo americano de democracia liberal ha introducido nuevas oportunidades en lugares como TaiwÁn, India, Senegal y Sud África. En una era de crisis, necesitamos de la democracia mÁs que nunca.
In an age of fake news and half-truths, the radical potential of democracy is more important than ever, as this nimble, illuminating history by a celebrated political theorist reveals. From its beginnings in Syria-Mesopotamia - and not Athens - to its role in fomenting revolutionary fervour in France and America, democracy has subverted fixed ways of deciding who should enjoy power and privilege, and why. For democracy encourages people to do something radical: to come together as equals, to determine their own lives and futures. In this vigorous, illuminating history, acclaimed political thinker John Keane traces its byzantine history, from the age of assembly democracy in Athens, to European-inspired electoral democracy and the birth of representative government, to our age of monitory democracy. He gives new reasons why democracy is a precious global ideal. As the world has come to be shaped by democracy, it has grown more worldly - American-style liberal democracy is giving way to regional varieties with a local character in places such as Taiwan, India, Senegal and South Africa. In an age of crisis, we need the radical potential of democracy more than ever.
