Author Description
Democracy is struggling in America. Citizens increasingly feel cynical about an intractable political system, while hyper-partisanship has dramatically shrank common ground and intensified the extremes. Out of this deepening sense of political despair, philosopher of education Sarah M. Stitzlein seeks to revive democracy by teaching citizens how to hope. Offering an informed call to citizen engagement, Stitzlein directly addresses presidential campaigns, including how to select candidates who support citizens in enacting and sustaining hope. Drawing on examples from American history and pragmatist philosophy, this book explains how hope can be cultivated in schools and sustained through action in our communities -- it describes what hope is, why it matters to democracy, and how to teach it.This is an open access title available under the terms of a CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International licence. It is free to read at Oxford Scholarship Online and offered as a free PDF download from OUP and selected open access locations.
Menrva's Summary
THE THESIS
This book investigates how the cultivation of hope, as a philosophical and practical tool, can serve to revitalize democratic engagement and mitigate political cynicism in contemporary American society. Sarah M. Stitzlein, a philosopher of education, utilizes a framework rooted in American pragmatism and historical analysis to argue that hope is not a passive emotion but an active, teachable skill. She contends that by integrating these practices into school curricula and community life, citizens can overcome hyper-partisanship and participate more effectively in the democratic process.
THE SCOPE MAP
What You Will Find
- Philosophical definitions of hope within the context of American pragmatism
- Pedagogical strategies for teaching democratic hope in K-12 and higher education settings
- Historical case studies illustrating the role of civic hope in social movements
- Guidelines for evaluating political candidates based on their capacity to foster citizen agency
Scope Limits
- Does not provide a comprehensive policy manual for structural electoral reform
- Does not focus on international democratic systems outside of the American context
THE AUTHORITY PERSPECTIVE
Scholars and educators frequently cite this work as a significant contribution to the intersection of civic education and political philosophy. The text is recognized for its accessible yet rigorous approach to addressing the psychological barriers to modern democratic participation.
Page Count:
184
Publication Date:
2019-12-26
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
ISBN-10:
0190062657
ISBN-13:
9780190062651
Philosophy
Politics & Social Sciences
Schools & Teaching
Civics
Education
Specific Topics
Political
Education Theory
Democracy
Psychology
Civics & Citizenship
Medical Books
Politics & Government
Social Science
Counseling Psychology
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