Anxiety and Authority in Political Theory

This chapter explores the philosophical questions of obedience to authority and the nature of coercive power, focusing on Hobbes' 'Leviathan' and the role of anxiety in his thoughts. It captures the concerns of political scholars who, in the wake of the 2024 U.S. election, express fears about the state of liberal democracy and its effects on vulnerable communities. Through discussions of current political issues, the chapter emphasizes the importance of understanding anxiety in shaping collective political action and theory.