Democratic Theorizing From The Margins

A clear account of the lessons and theories of democratic culture

Offers lessons from many movements to see what they tell us about democratic politics. This work addresses traditional democratic theories and draws on the discerning practices employed by marginalized groups in their political activism to enhance the critical capacities of potential movements committed to social change and democratic action.Democratic Theorizing from the Margins lays out the basic parameters of diversity-based politics as a still emerging form of democratic theory. Students, activists, and scholars engage in diversity politics on the ground, but generally remain unable to conceptualize a broad understanding of how \u0022politics from the margins\u0022-that is, political thinking and action that comes from groups often left on the outside of mainstream organizing and action-operates effectively in different contexts and environments. Brettschneider offers concrete lessons from many movements to see what they tell us about a new sort of democratic politics. She also addresses traditional democratic theories and draws on the myriad discerning practices employed by marginalized groups in their political activism to enhance the critical capacities of potential movements committed both to social change and democratic action.