JOURNAL ARTICLE

Contours of Dread.

  • Published In: American Literary History, 2023, v. 35, n. 1. P. 452 1 of 3

  • Database: Academic Search Ultimate 2 of 3

  • Authored By: Brenkman, John 3 of 3

Abstract

The article examines the missed intellectual dialogue between Hannah Arendt and Isaiah Berlin, focusing on their contrasting conceptions of freedom—Arendt's civic-democratic "freedom to" as political participation and Berlin's liberal-democratic "freedom from" as protection from state interference. It situates these views alongside the social-democratic dimension of modern democracy, which emphasizes state intervention to reduce inequality and promote the public good, highlighting the ongoing tensions among these three democratic ideals. The discussion extends to contemporary challenges facing democracy, including populism, polarization, and the erosion of liberal rights, with analyses of protest movements and political participation in diverse contexts such as the United States and India. The article critiques the notion of social democracy as the telos of democracy, arguing instead for the recognition of democratic strife among liberal, civic, and social dimensions as essential to democracy's vitality.

Additional Information

  • Source:American Literary History. 2023/03, Vol. 35, Issue 1, p452
  • Document Type:Article
  • Subject Area:History
  • Publication Date:2023
  • ISSN:0896-7148
  • DOI:10.1093/alh/ajac245
  • Accession Number:162272359
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