Kidnapped Democracy

109 Pages·2020·0.54 MB·English

by  Ramón A. Feenstra

PraiseforKidnappedDemocracy
‘RamónFeenstratakesseriouslythekidnapanalogyasaconceptu-
al tool with which to dissect the predicament of present-day de-
mocracies,engagingprovocativelyandmeticulouslywiththeiden-
tity, interests and strategies of both kidnappers and hostages, and
the complex relationship between them, which culminates in a
predictable and dramatic Stockholm syndrome. For how long will
we be complacent, and will we justify the kidnap of our democra-
ciesandourlackofsayinwhathappenstous?’
—SoniaAlonsoSaenzDeOger,
AssociateProfessorofGovernment,
GeorgetownUniversitySchoolofForeignService,Qatar
‘Thisisawonderfulbook.Kidnappingisaverystrongmetaphorto
understand the democratic deficits of our time. Moreover, this is
the right self-help book for victimized citizens to overcome their
Stockholmsyndromeandtodevelopdemocratizingpractices’.
—PaulDekker,ProfessorofCivilSociety,
TilburgUniversity,TheNetherlands
‘To understand the challenges contemporary democracies face
and to explore potential solutions addressing redemocratization,
Feenstra uses the metaphor of kidnapping. The result is a very
timelyandprovocativereflectionlookingatthepresentandtothe
future.Amustreadanddiscuss’.
—YaninaWelp,
SeniorResearcher,CenterforDemocracyStudies;
Co-DirectoroftheZurichLatinAmericanCenter,
UniversityofZurich,Switzerland

KIDNAPPED DEMOCRACY

Polemics
SeriesEditors:MarkDevenneyandClareWoodford
Polemicsdrawsonradicalpoliticalphilosophyandtheorytoaddressdirectlythe
variouscrisesthathaveplaguedglobalsocietyandcapitalisminthepastdecade.
Theseriespresentsradicalcritiquesofandalternativevisionstotheexistingway
of doing things. The texts in this series represent philosophically rigorous but
polemicalinterventionsincontemporaryglobal,financial,political,environmen-
tal and theoretical crises. The series is published in partnership with CAPPE,
UniversityofBrighton.
TitlesintheSeries:
KidnappedDemocracy,byRamónA.Feenstra
AgainstFreeSpeech,byAnthonyLeaker
KIDNAPPED DEMOCRACY
Ramón A. Feenstra
London • New York
PublishedbyRowman&LittlefieldInternational,Ltd.
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Copyright©2020byRamónA.Feenstra
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