{"product_id":"political-action-in-vaclav-havels-thought-9780739149577","title":"Political Action in Václav Havels Thought","description":"\u003cb\u003eBook Synopsis\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePolitical Action in Vaclav Havel's Thought: The Responsibility of Resistance, by Delia Popescu, examines resistance to oppression and individual responsibility in political action, all in the context of Vaclav Havel's political philosophy. The famous anti-communist dissident, acclaimed playwright, former President of the Czech Republic, and eminent political thinker argues that there is a certain tendency in modern humanity towards the creation, or at least toleration, of a political system that is invasive and controlling. Not unlike Tocqueville and Arendt, Havel claims that modern liberal democracy contains potential tendencies toward a new form of despotism that capitalizes on modern alienation and social atomization. Political Action in Vaclav Havel's Thought suggests that Havel's theory of individual opposition can be used to secure political freedom under the conditions of modernity. Popescu demonstrates that Havel's idea of attaining true political participation and freedom requ\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eTrade Review\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eVáclav Havel remains among the most--some might say one of the few--appealing public intellectuals of the 20th century. Genial, witty, humane, and (mirabile dictu) politically successful, he deserves exactly the well-informed, lively treatment he receives here. Popescu (LeMoyne College) succinctly presents Havel's critique of modern life and his efforts in thought and action to counteract its toxins. While unhesitatingly preferring the regime of liberal democracy to those of totalitarianism and its flaccid, spiritless successor, \"post-totalitarianism,\" Havel also saw what Tocqueville saw: even relatively decent modern societies tend toward lives of apathy and civic disengagement under the rule of impersonal bureaucracies. The administrative functionalism so admired by Hegel bespeaks not the rule of reason but the rule of rationalism--of reason made into a system of rules that overlook the personality of the human beings so ruled. Against this, Havel not only proposed but lived a life in which he built up Czech civil society, urging his fellow noncitizens to take personal responsibility for one another. While protestors in the Western democracies demanded participatory democracy, Havel worked for anticipatory democracy: \"the civic spirit that defeated communism ... is also the proper foundation for successful democratic rebuilding\" after post-totalitarianism collapses. Summing Up: Recommended. * CHOICE *\u003cbr\u003ePopescu presents his political theory as fresh and relevant to the problems of political action that are endemic to modern political life. It is a welcome addition to a body of scholarship that is emerging around the legacy of Vaclav Havel and compels us to take seriously the political and philosophical contributions of antipolitics. This accessible volume should find a ready home on the shelves of philosophers and activists alike. * Theory \u0026amp; Event *\u003cbr\u003eDelia Popescu has taken on a challenging task. Her intent is to provide a new interpretation of Havel as political philosopher. Her stated aim is to shine a new, clarifying, light on Havel’s concept of responsibility, which has become a diffuse notion....this courageous and intellectually passionate volume deserves our attention. * Slavic Review *\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eTable of Contents\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAcknowledgments Introduction Chapter One—The Choice to Write Chapter Two—Post-totalitarianism: Havel's New Concept of Power Chapter Three—The Bridge of Excuses: Unraveling Identity in Havel's Plays Chapter Four—Between Modernity and Responsibility Chapter Five—The Breakdown in Tradition: Anti-politics in Havel's Political Thought Conclusion—The Dorian Gray Image of Modern Times Bibliography About the Author Index","brand":"Lexington Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51037499195735,"sku":"9780739149577","price":82.8,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0817\/1739\/5799\/files\/9780739149577.jpg?v=1750935978","url":"https:\/\/bookcurl.com\/products\/political-action-in-vaclav-havels-thought-9780739149577","provider":"Book Curl","version":"1.0","type":"link"}