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Sheldon Wolin's Anarchism

Abram, Isaac
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1386314425

Abstract Details

2013, Master of Arts (MA), Ohio University, Political Science (Arts and Sciences).
This thesis will argue that Sheldon Wolin's theory of democracy is conceptually similar to anarchist theory. Wolin is often cited as the key figure who reignited democratic theory in the United States, and he is still regarded as a leading theorist of democracy within academia. Given his esteemed reputation among political philosophers, it is worth illustrating the affinities between his vision of democracy and anarchism, especially because his conception of democracy is oftentimes more anarchic than anarchism. Anarchism is understudied in academia compared to other political forms. It is also commonly derided in popular culture as either frivolous or a recipe for chaos. It is precisely because of anarchism's unfavorable reputation, along with its tendency to be dismissed as an unviable political option, that its similarity to Wolin's vision of democracy deserves attention. A careful reading of Wolin reveals that both his conception of democracy and anarchism might be conceptually symmetrical, or even indistinguishable. There is much to be gained from identifying and elaborating these similarities: If the ideas that are usually associated with democracy - such as equality of political power, inclusion in decision-making, deliberative decision-making, freedom from arbitrary rule, skepticism toward authority, attention to the ordinary, opposition to hierarchy and centralization, the value of localism, and the celebration of diversity - are also mainstays of anarchism, then the struggle to achieve democracy could be identical to the struggle to achieve anarchy: Achieving one would mean achieving the other. This thesis will canvass Wolin's entire corpus in order to present to the reader relevant quotes that demonstrate his anarchist sentiments. Furthermore, a sample of anarchist literature will be surveyed in order to provide concrete evidence of the kinship between Wolin's work and anarchism.
Judith Grant (Committee Chair)
Julie White (Committee Member)
Burnier DeLysa (Committee Member)
140 p.
Philosophy; Political Science
Sheldon Wolin; anarchism; fugitive democracy; radical democracy; anarchy and democracy; participatory democracy

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Abram, I. (2013). Sheldon Wolin's Anarchism [Master's thesis, Ohio University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1386314425

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Abram, Isaac. Sheldon Wolin's Anarchism. 2013. Ohio University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1386314425.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Abram, Isaac. "Sheldon Wolin's Anarchism." Master's thesis, Ohio University, 2013. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1386314425

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

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This open access ETD is published by Ohio University and OhioLINK.