In these two important lectures, distinguished political philosopher Seyla Benhabib argues that since the UN Declaration of Human Rights in 1948, we have entered a phase of global civil society which is governed by cosmopolitan norms of universal justice -- norms which are difficult for some to accept as legitimate since they are in conflict with democratic ideals. In her first lecture, Benhabib argues that this tension can never be fully resolved, but it can be mitigated through the renegotiation of the dual commitments to human rights and sovereign self-determination. Her second lecture develops this idea in detail, with special reference to recent developments in Europe (for example, the banning of Muslim head scarves in France). The EU has seen the replacement of the traditional unitary model of citizenship with a new model that disaggregates the components of traditional citizenship, making it possible to be a citizen of multiple entities at the same time. The volume also contains a substantive introduction by Robert Post, the volume editor, and contributions by Bonnie Honig (Northwestern University), Will Kymlicka (Queens University), and Jeremy Waldron (Columbia School of Law).
About the AuthorSeyla Benbahib is Eugene Meyer Professor of Political Science and Philosophy at Yale University.
ReviewsThis innovative rethinking of basic elements of liberal democracy in a global perspective, together with the probing criticisms of her distinguished commentators and her responses to them, offer the reader a superabundance of concentrated political-theoretical insight. * Thomas McCarthy, John C. Shaffer Distinguished Professor of the Humanities, Northwestern University *
Book InformationISBN 9780195369878
Author Seyla BenhabibFormat Paperback
Page Count 224
Imprint Oxford University Press IncPublisher Oxford University Press Inc
Weight(grams) 290g
Dimensions(mm) 141mm * 216mm * 16mm