Tag: Aristotle

Two New Essays for Isonomia

I have two new essay out for Isonomia. The first, “On Whether Various Economic Schemes Can Improve Citizens’ Political Capabilities,” reflects on the different strategies liberal theorists employ to ensure democratic citizens have the capabilities necessary to participate effectively. I argue that all these strategies fall short, because there is a reluctance on the part of liberal theorists to grapple with the cost of creating citizens who really can perform the necessary political work. It was a ton of fun to write, and you can read it here:

On Whether Various Economic Schemes Can Improve Citizens’ Political Capabilities

The second, “Federations and Foreign Policy: The Quest for Koinon,” explores why political federations like the United States stop expanding. Instead of continuing to incorporate more states as co-members, these federations begin building military bases in foreign states and compelling those states to become clients. I argue that federations have historically been based rather heavily around security and this has made it difficult to use them to reform the global economic system. While elites are willing to pay the cost of integrating territory when this is necessary for their own survival, they become more resistant when this integration is no longer strictly necessary. You can read it here:

Federations and Foreign Policy: The Quest for Koinon

The Catholic Prophet of Inequality

I’ve written a new piece for Compact on the necessity of confronting the economic roots of cultural and spiritual problems, framing the argument around the work of Nicholas Oresme, a 14th century French bishop. You can read it here: https://compactmag.com/article/the-catholic-prophet-of-inequality

My book, The Chronic Crisis of American Democracy: The Way is Shut, is available here: https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-28210-2