The Political Theory Review

A conversation with John McCormick about his recent book, "The People's Princes: Machiavelli, Leadership, and Liberty" (U of Chicago Press).

A conversation with John Harpham about his recent book, "The Intellectual Origins of American Slavery: English Ideas in the Early Modern Atlantic World" (Harvard UP).

A conversation with Alex Zakaras about his recent book "Freedom for All: What a Liberal Society Could Be" (Yale UP).

A conversation with Roxanne Euben about her recent book, "Driven to their Knees: Humiliation in Contemporary Politics" (Princeton UP).

A conversation with Lisa Herzog about her recent book "The Democratic Marketplace: How a More Equal Economy Can Save Our Political Ideals" (Harvard UP).

A conversation with Douglas Moggach about his recent book "Freedom and Perfection: German Political Thought from Leibniz to Marx" (Cambridge UP).

William Galston, a Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution and author of 'Anger, Fear, Domination,' delves into the emotional undercurrents affecting liberal democracy. He discusses how anger and fear can threaten democratic values, emphasizing the need for understanding and compromise. Galston highlights the power of rhetoric to combat dark emotions in politics and advocates for persuasive speech as essential in defending democracy. Historical examples illustrate the pitfalls of allowing resentment to shape political dynamics.

Cass Sunstein, a Harvard University professor and author of 'On Liberalism: In Defense of Freedom,' discusses the complexities of liberal thought. He examines diverse interpretations, critiques from both the left and right, and the intersection of freedom and community beliefs. Sunstein shares historical insights and personal anecdotes, highlighting the delicate balance between individual agency and societal norms. He also addresses the future of liberalism, focusing on its resilience amid contemporary challenges and the necessity for inclusive discourse.

A conversation with John Christman about his recent book, "Reconceiving Liberty from the Shadows of Slavery: Liberty in a Nonideal World" (Cambridge UP)

Linda Zerilli, a professor of Political Science at the University of Chicago, dives into her book on democratic truth. She discusses the impact of misinformation in politics, particularly during the Trump era. Zerilli critiques fact-checking and the subjective nature of truth, drawing from Foucault and Arendt. The conversation explores the interplay between solitude and social processes in thinking, the importance of diverse voices in deliberative democracy, and challenges the post-truth landscape by advocating a reevaluation of truth through ordinary language.