Why compromise is essential for effective government and why it is missing in politics today
To govern in a democracy, political leaders have to compromise. When they do not, the result is political paralysis-dramatically demonstrated by the gridlock in Congress in recent years. In The Spirit of Compromise, eminent political thinkers Amy Gutmann and Dennis Thompson show why compromise is so important, what stands in the way of achieving it, and how citizens can make defensible compromises more likely. They urge politicians to focus less on campaigning and more on governing. In a new preface, the authors reflect on the state of compromise in Congress since the book's initial publication.
Calling for greater cooperation in contemporary politics, The Spirit of Compromise will interest everyone who cares about making government work better for the good of all.
Autorentext
Amy Gutmann is president of the University of Pennsylvania, where she is also the Christopher H. Browne Distinguished Professor of Political Science in the School of Arts and Sciences and professor of communication in the Annenberg School of Communication. Dennis Thompson is the Alfred North Whitehead Professor of Political Philosophy at Harvard University. Gutmann and Thompson are coauthors of Why Deliberative Democracy? (Princeton) and Democracy and Disagreement.
Inhalt
Preface to the Paperback Edition ix
INTRODUCTION
Two Compromises 5
Characteristics of Compromise 10
Mindsets of Compromise 16
1 VALUING COMPROMISE
Costs of Not Compromising 30
Vulnerabilities of Compromise 35
Limits of Compromise 41
Limits of History 54
2 RESISTING COMPROMISE
The Makeup of Mindsets 64
Principled Tenacity 69
Mutual Mistrust 85
Uncompromising Multiplied 91
3 SEEKING COMPROMISE
Principled Prudence 101
Mutual Respect 109
Economizing on Disagreement 117
A Moment of Compromise 133
Compromising in an Uncompromising Time 140
4 CAMPAIGNING V. GOVERNING
Requisites of Campaigning 146
Two Conceptions of Democracy 152
5 GOVERNING WITH CAMPAIGNING
Space for Governing 168
Term Time 177
Time Is Money 180
Primary Pressures 184
More Participation? 186
Minding the Media 189
Strengthening Civic Education 199
CONCLUSION
The Uses of Mindsets 205
Doubts about Compromise 210
The Dilemma of Reform 214
The Support of Citizens 216
Notes 219
Acknowledgments 255
Index 257