Contesting Democracy: Political Ideas in Twentieth-Century Europe

by Jan-Werner Müller

This book is the first major account of political thought in twentieth-century Europe, both West and East, to appear since the end of the Cold War. Skillfully blending intellectual, political, and cultural history, Jan-Werner Müller elucidates the ideas that shaped the period of ideological extremes before 1945 and the liberalization of West European politics after the Second World War. He also offers vivid portraits of famous as well as unjustly forgotten political thinkers and the movements and institutions they inspired.

Müller pays particular attention to ideas advanced to justify fascism and how they relate to the special kind of liberal democracy that was created in postwar Western Europe. He also explains the impact of the 1960s and neoliberalism, ending with a critical assessment of today's self-consciously post-ideological age.

Genres: Politics, History, Nonfiction, Philosophy, Political Science, 20th Century, Social Science

304 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

Jan-Werner Müller is a professor of politics at Princeton University, where he also directs the Project in the History of Political Thought. His previous books include What is Populism? (2016) and Contesting Democracy: Political Ideas in Twentieth-Century Europe (2011). He writes for the Guardian, the London Review of Books, and The New York Review of Books.

Reviews

[Slavisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a treasure trove of less known events, facts, and quotes related to the 20th century political landscape. It is a dense book. I read it very slowly, digesting every page with great care. It is not a popular or easy read but a rather advanced history of ideas. The author will not waste time explaining who Lenin or Mussolini were but will go straight into discussing their ideological backgrounds and streams of thought that influenced them. I can see how some readers can get turned off by this book. But if you know what you are getting yourself into, this is a phenomenal book to read, savor, underline, and keep.

[N. N. · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a collage of what are basically wikipedia articles on Lenin, Schmitt, Jacques Maritain, Oakeshott, etc. Additionally, there is some boring and annoying political commentary.

What is the point of this kind of work? If you want to discuss a topic this broad, you should either focus on a few representative examples, or you should treat lots of examples in detail and write something long. The best thing I can say about Contesting Democracy is that it is better than Katrina Forrester's book.

[Dariusz Płochocki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bardzo wnikliwie napisana i nie uciekająca od wielu problemów rozprawa z myślą polityczną XX wieku na Starym Kontynencie. Szczególnie wątki faszystowskich Włoch i ducha marca 68 warte przemyśleń i dogłębnej lektury.

[Vincenzo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book. Professor Muller is able to put together, in a coherent flow, several thoughts, ideas and failed political and cultural projects that influenced the path to modern democracies. The result is to instill the awareness that probably the reality is far from what people have fought for.

[Anton Stubbe Teglbjærg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jan-Werner Müller explores the ideas that shaped European politics of the 20th century, he does this by focusing on the often overlooked people operating in the space between politics and philosophy; such as Weber, Maritain, Gentile, Lukács, and Hayek. Though in no way a complete history of modern (and postmodern) European thought, it provides a refreshing way of understanding political history

[Minäpäminä · Rating 2 out of 5]

The narrative is scattered and shallow. I'd think it hard to follow for a beginner (in 20th century European politics) but it was much too basic for anyone advanced in their studies. I guess it could be looked at as a handbook or an introduction, saying a little bit of something about almost everything.

[Patrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

An important point made in this book. Those interested in the current political climate since Brexit and the last presidential election should take note of what’s in this book.

[Tommy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Notting much original said inhere, just an overview of Bolshevism, fascism, Christian democracy, situationism, postmodernism, neoliberalism, neoconservatism and such.

[Filip Paszko · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bardzo ciekawa i przekrojowa historia intelektualna Europy XX wieku. Żałować można jedynie bardzo, bardzo pobieżnego omówienia neoliberalizmu i konserwatyzmu w wydaniu Oakeshotta.

[!Tæmbuŝu]

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