Civil Rights and the Paradox of Liberal Democracy

by Watson, Bradley C. S.

• ISBN13: 9780739100387
• ISBN10: 0739100386
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 1999-08-01
• Publisher: Lexington Books

Summary

In Civil Rights and the Paradox of Liberal Democracy, Bradley Watson demonstrates the paradox of liberal democracy: that its cornerstone principles of equality and freedom are principles inherently directed toward undermining it. Modernity, beyond bringing definition to political equality, unleashed a whirlwind of individualism, which feeds the soul's basic impulse to rule without limitationincluding the limitation of consent. Here Watson begins his analysis of the foundations of liberalism, looking carefully and critically at the moral and political philosophies that justify modern civil rights litigation. He goes on to examine the judicial manifestations of the paradox of liberal democracy, seeking to bring a broad philosophical coherence to legal decision making in the United States and Canada. Finally, Watson illuminates the extent to which this decision making is in tension with liberal democracy, and outlines proposals for reform.

Author Biography

Bradley C. S. Watson is Assistant Professor of Political Science and Fellow in Politics and Policy at the Center for Economic and Policy Education, Saint Vincent College, Latrobe, Pennsylvania.

Table of Contents

Preface	ix
The Paradox of Liberal Democracy	1	(32)
The Canadian Experience	33	(24)
The American Experience	57	(32)
Individuality and Modern Thought	89	(48)
Obstacles to Reform in the United States	137	(30)
The Times of Restoration: Prospects for Reform	167	(16)
Coda	183	(2)
Works Cited	185	(10)
Cases Cited	195	(2)
Index	197	(6)
About the Author	203