Liberalism and Pluralism : Towards a Politics of Compromise

In Liberalism and Pluralism,Richard Bellamyexplores the challenges posed by conflicting values, interests and identities to liberal democracy. Conventional liberal thought is no longer suited to the complex, plural societies of today. By analyzing the three major strands of liberal thought as represented by Hayek, Rawls and Walzer, the author reveals how standard liberalism has tried to circumvent unstable settlements. This book establishes a more satisfactory alternative: namely, negotiated compromise. With Reference To Topical Examples, Such As The Rushdie Affair And The Citizen's Charter, This Study Explores The Challenges That Conflicting Values, Interests And Identities Pose To Liberal Democracy. Introduction: The Challenge Of Pluralism -- Pt. I. Liberal Democracy And The Exclusion Of Politics. 1. Trading Values: Hayek And The Dethronement Of Politics By Markets. 2. Trimming Values: Rawls And The Constitutional Avoidance Of Politics. 3. Segregating Values: Walzer And The Communitarian Containment Of Politics -- Pt. Ii. Democratic Liberalism And The Politics Of Compromise. 4. Negotiating Values: From Consensus To Compromise. 5. A Negotiating Democracy: The Political Constitution Of A Pluralist Policy -- Pt. Iii. Pluralism, Liberalism And Democracy In Britain. 6. Trading Democracy For Markets: The Citizen's Charter And The Contracting State. 7. Trimming Democracy: The Human Rights Act. 8. De-segregating Democracy: Whose Europe, Which Community? Richard Bellamy. Sequel To: Liberalism And Modern Society: An Historical Argument (cambridge: Polity Press, 1992) Includes Bibliographical References (p. [210]-238) And Index. Preliminaries......Page 1 Contents......Page 8 Preface and acknowledgements......Page 10 Introduction: the challenge of pluralism......Page 12 1 Trading values: Hayek and the dethronement of of politics by markets......Page 28 2 Trimming values: Rawls and the constitutional avoidance of politics......Page 53 3 Segregating values: Walzer and the communitarian containment of politics......Page 78 4 Negotiating values: from consensus to compromise......Page 104 5 A negotiating democracy: the political constitution pf a pluralist polity......Page 126 6 Trading democracy for markets: the Citizen's Charter and the contracting state......Page 154 7 Trimming democracy: the Human Rights Act......Page 176 8 De-segregating democracy: whose Europe, which community......Page 201 Notes......Page 221 Index......Page 250 Politics Preliminaries 1 Contents 8 Preface and acknowledgements 10 Introduction: the challenge of pluralism 12 1 Trading values: Hayek and the dethronement of of politics by markets 28 2 Trimming values: Rawls and the constitutional avoidance of politics 53 3 Segregating values: Walzer and the communitarian containment of politics 78 4 Negotiating values: from consensus to compromise 104 5 A negotiating democracy: the political constitution pf a pluralist polity 126 6 Trading democracy for markets: the Citizen's Charter and the contracting state 154 7 Trimming democracy: the Human Rights Act 176 8 De-segregating democracy: whose Europe, which community 201 Notes 221 Index 250 In Liberalism and Pluralism the author explores the challenges conflicting values, interests and identities pose to liberal democracy. Richard Bellamy illustrates his criticism and proposals by reference to such topical issues as the citizens charter, constitutional reform, the Rushdie affair and the development of the European Union. The past two decades has been characterised by a diminishing belief in the capacity of the state to coordinate social life, and a corresponding increased faith in the role of the market.