Gabriele Badano and Alasia Nuti, "Politicizing Political Liberalism: On the Containment of Illiberal and Antidemocratic Views" (Oxford UP, 2024)
New Books in Critical Theory
Deep Dive
What is the main focus of Alasia Nuti and Gabriele Badano's book 'Politicizing Political Liberalism'?
The book focuses on developing a normative account of liberal democratic self-defense against illiberal and anti-democratic views. It emphasizes not only the role of the state but also the duties of non-state actors like citizens, partisans, and municipalities. The authors build on John Rawls's political liberalism, addressing how to contain unreasonable views that threaten liberal democratic values.
How does political liberalism differ from traditional liberalism according to Alasia Nuti?
Political liberalism, rooted in John Rawls's work, starts from the premise of inevitable disagreement in pluralistic societies. It distinguishes between reasonable and unreasonable disagreement, where the latter involves views that deny treating all citizens as free and equal. Political liberalism also emphasizes public reason, requiring decisions on constitutional essentials to be based on arguments acceptable to all reasonable citizens.
Why do Nuti and Badano argue for politicizing political liberalism?
They argue that traditional political liberalism is not sufficiently aligned with real-world politics. By politicizing it, they address the need for coercion, the creation of liberal citizens, and the legitimacy of disruptive or violent means for oppressed groups seeking justice. This approach makes political liberalism more relevant to contemporary challenges.
What is Rawls's theory of containment, and how do Nuti and Badano expand on it?
Rawls's theory of containment involves limiting the influence of unreasonable views that threaten liberal institutions. Nuti and Badano argue that containment requires a more nuanced approach, considering the importance of basic rights and opportunities. They emphasize the role of non-state actors and preemptive measures before resorting to repressive actions.
How do Nuti and Badano view the use of violence in achieving justice for oppressed groups?
They argue that oppressed groups are entitled to use disruption and violence to seek political change when suffering from severe injustice. Political liberalism does not expect such groups to adhere strictly to civility and public reason, as doing so would be too demanding and ineffective in addressing their grievances.
What role do municipalities play in resisting illiberal and anti-democratic governments?
Municipalities, as subnational administrative units, have duties to oppose central government decisions violating basic rights and to prefigure a liberal democratic society. Examples include sanctuary cities in the U.S. resisting anti-immigration policies and Italian cities challenging right-wing populist decrees on asylum seekers and same-sex parents.
How can political liberalism address the rise of populism and democratic backsliding?
Political liberalism offers a framework for pushing back against illiberal and anti-democratic tendencies by asserting the superiority of liberal values while addressing legitimate grievances. It assigns duties to various actors, including citizens, partisans, and municipalities, to contain unreasonable views and preserve democratic institutions.
What are Nuti and Badano's future research projects?
They are exploring the role of social media in democratic backsliding and the legitimacy of invoking the dead in political struggles for gender and sexual emancipation. These projects continue their focus on normative responses to contemporary political challenges and the intersection of history and justice.
- Definition of political liberalism emphasizing equal basic rights and opportunities.
- Distinction from libertarian views.
- The concept of 'unreasonable disagreement' and its implications.
- Politicizing political liberalism to address real-world political dynamics, including coercion and disruption.
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