Violence and Democracy

by John Keane

John Keane offers an original account of the origins of violence, its consequences, its uses and remedies, and the relationship between violence and democracy. Rejecting the view that "human nature" is violent, Keane demonstrates why democracies do not wage war upon each other, and are unusually sensitive to violence. He emphasizes ethical questions, such as the circumstances in which violence can be justified, and argues that violence can and should be "democratized" and made publicly accountable.

228 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

About the author

John Keane is the professor of politics at the University of Sydney and the author of The Life and Death of Democracy.

Reviews

[Rita Lei Chen 雷晨 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Limiting violence to means rather than ends is a clever way to solve the dilemma.