Contesting Conformity: Democracy and the Paradox of Political Belonging

Americans value resistance to conformity, but recent research shows that they are averse to non-conformity in practice. This raises questions about the value of non-conformity and its relationship to democracy. Contesting Conformity provides a new interpretive lens to investigate non-conformity and its relationship to modern democracy, arguing that while non-conformity is important for cultivating a just polity, it can also undermine democracy.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 192 pages
Publication date: 27 September 2022
Publisher: Oxford University Press Inc

Americans place great value on defying conformity. Embrace your uniqueness! Don't just blend in with the crowd! Such exhortations permeate modern American society. We celebrate individuals like Martin Luther King Jr. and Steve Jobs who blaze their own trails and innovate. However, it's intriguing to note that recent research in social psychology has revealed that, in reality, Americans tend to be averse and, at times, even hostile towards individuals who exhibit traits associated with non-conformity, such as individuality, independent thinking, and creativity. This discrepancy between our public rhetoric and actual behavior raises profound questions: Why is non-conformity valuable? Is it inherently valuable, or does it carry risks as well as potential benefits for democratic societies? What is the interplay between non-conformity as an individual ideal and democracy as a collective form of self-rule?

Contesting Conformity offers a fresh perspective on the writings of Alexis de Tocqueville, John Stuart Mill, and Friedrich Nietzsche to explore non-conformity and its relationship to modern democracy. While they may have distinct viewpoints, all three thinkers share concerns that certain aspects of democracy, including the influence of public opinion, the dominance of social majorities, and the commitment to moral equality, promote conformity, stifling dissent, uniqueness, and creativity. Taken together, Tocqueville, Mill, and Nietzsche demonstrate that, as democracies, we must find ways to nurture non-conformity while adhering to certain moral and political boundaries.

Drawing upon their insights, Jennie Ikuta contends that non-conformity poses a persistent challenge for democracy. While non-conformity is crucial for fostering a just society, it can also undermine democratic principles.

Weight: 274g
Dimension: 154 x 235 x 14 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780197655030