Political Enthusiasm: Partisan Feeling and Democracy's Enchantments

Enthusiasm is often seen as a threat to democratic politics, but it is essential to democracy as it helps political actors identify and foster radical changes. This book explores how political actors use enthusiasm to motivate allegiances, the dangers of enthusiasm, and how it can be understood in modern Western political thought.

Format: Hardback
Length: 232 pages
Publication date: 26 April 2022
Publisher: Manchester University Press

Enthusiasm has long been viewed as a fundamental threat to democratic politics, with many perceiving it as a source of instability and irrationalism. Such views can make enthusiasm appear as a direct threat to the reason and order on which democracy is thought to rely. However, such a desire for a sober and moderate democratic politics is perilously misleading and ignores the emotional basis on which democracy thrives.

Enthusiasm in democracy plays a crucial role in helping political actors identify and foster radical changes. We experience enthusiasm at precisely those moments of new beginnings, when politics takes on new shapes and structures. Being clear about how we experience enthusiasm and how we recognize it is thus crucial for democracy, which depends on the sharing of power and the alteration of rule.

This book explores the shifting understanding of enthusiasm in modern Western political thought. Poe examines how political actors use enthusiasm to motivate allegiances, how we have come to think about the dangers of enthusiasm in democratic politics, and how else we might think about enthusiasm today. From its inception, democracy has relied on a constant affective energy of renewal. By tracing the way this crucial emotional energy is made manifest in political actions, from ancient times to the present, this book sheds light on the way enthusiasm has been understood by political scientists, philosophers, and political activists, as well as its implications for future democratic politics.

Enthusiasm is a powerful force that can inspire political movements and bring about significant change. It is a feeling of passion and excitement that can drive people to action and motivate them to pursue their goals with determination and energy. However, enthusiasm can also be dangerous in democratic politics, as it can lead to instability, irrationalism, and the erosion of democratic norms and institutions.

One of the primary dangers of enthusiasm in democratic politics is that it can lead to the erosion of the rule of law. When political actors are driven by enthusiasm and ignore the legal and ethical framework that governs democratic societies, they can engage in actions that are illegal, immoral, and against the interests of the public. This can lead to the breakdown of trust in democratic institutions and the erosion of the rule of law.

Another danger of enthusiasm in democratic politics is that it can lead to the polarization of society. When political actors are driven by enthusiasm and ignore the needs and concerns of their opponents, they can create a sense of division and hostility that can undermine the social fabric of democratic societies. This can lead to the marginalization of certain groups and the exclusion of others from the political process, which can undermine the legitimacy of democratic institutions.

Enthusiasm can also lead to the adoption of policies that are not in the best interests of the public. When political actors are driven by enthusiasm and ignore the evidence-based policymaking process, they can make decisions that are based on ideology rather than on objective facts and evidence. This can lead to policies that are ineffective, inefficient, and harmful to the public.

Despite these dangers, enthusiasm can also be a positive force in democratic politics. It can inspire political actors to pursue policies that are in the best interests of the public and to work towards a more just and equitable society. When political actors are driven by enthusiasm and are committed to the principles of democracy, they can create a sense of unity and purpose that can inspire others to join them in their efforts.

To mitigate the dangers of enthusiasm in democratic politics, it is important for political actors to exercise caution and restraint. They should be guided by the principles of democracy, the rule of law, and the needs and concerns of the public. They should also be willing to listen to the opinions and concerns of their opponents and to engage in constructive dialogue and compromise.

In conclusion, enthusiasm can be a powerful force in democratic politics, but it can also be dangerous. It is important for political actors to exercise caution and restraint and to be guided by the principles of democracy, the rule of law, and the needs and concerns of the public. By doing so, we can ensure that enthusiasm is used as a positive force in democratic politics and that it is not used to undermine the legitimacy of democratic institutions or to harm the public.

Dimension: 216 x 138 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781526156914