Adventures in Democracy

RevDem Podcast

In this conversation at the Review of Democracy, Erica Benner – author of the new book Adventures in Democracy: The Turbulent World of People Power – shows what a more self-critical and down-to-earth understanding of democracy would entail; discusses what it means that there is a constant battle within democracies between principles of universal liberty, equality, and power-sharing, on the one hand, and the boys’ club logic, on the other; explains why self-restraint and acknowledging others’ fear of losing their share of power are crucially important; and reflects on the development of a truly global conversation about democracy.

Erica Benner is a political philosopher and historian of ideas. She teaches at the Hertie School for Governance in Berlin, at LSE Ideas, as well as for academic programmes in Sweden and China. She has previously been affiliated with Oxford University, Yale University, Warsaw University as well as the CEU’s Institute of Advanced Studies, among other institutions. Benner also acts as the President of the European Society for the History of Political Thought and is a founding editor of the book series History of European Political and Constitutional Thought. She is the author of numerous books, including Be Like the Fox: Machiavelli In His World.

Adventures in Democracy: The Turbulent World of People Power has been published by Allen Lane.

The conversation has been conducted by Ferenc Laczó. The recording has been edited by Lucie Hunter.