Synopses & Reviews
In 1989, the Cold War abruptly ended and it seemed as if the world was at last safe for democracy. But a spirit of uneasiness, discontent, and world-weariness soon arose and has persisted in Europe, in America, and elsewhere for two decades. To discern the meaning of this malaise we must investigate the nature of liberal democracy, says the author of this provocative book, and he undertakes to do so through a detailed investigation of the thinking of Montesquieu, Rousseau, and Tocqueville.
Paul A. Rahe argues that these political thinkers anticipated the modern liberal republic's propensity to drift in the direction of “soft despotism”—a condition that arises within a democracy when paternalistic state power expands and gradually undermines the spirit of self-government. Such an eventuality, feared by Tocqueville in the nineteenth century, has now become a reality throughout the European Union, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the United States. So Rahe asserts, and he explains what must be done to reverse this unfortunate trend.
Review
"Acute analysts of emergent commercial republicanism found much to praise, even while foreseeing (and showing how one might avert) its slide into mindless self-absorption. With this expert, engrossing account, Paul Rahe joins that honorable company who resist the further degradation of democratic souls."—Ralph Lerner, The University of Chicago
Review
"This is an exemplary deployment of great past thinkers in an intensely provocative, deliberately controversial meditation on the profound strengths and weaknesses or dangers in our political culture."—Thomas L. Pangle, author of
Montesquieu's Philosophy of Liberalism: A Commentary on the Spirit of the LawsReview
"A remarkable book."—Kenneth Minogue, Times Literary Supplement
Review
Chosen as an Outstanding Academic Title for 2009 by Choice Magazine
Review
“Intelligent [and] well-reasoned.”—Cynthia Grenier,
Human EventsReview
"Outstanding."—David Gordon, The Mises Review
Review
“Valuable. . . impressive and provocative. . . deserves to be widely read. . . a fine book.”—William Voegeli, National Review
Review
“Paul Rahe is a distinguished and prolific historian in the field of intellectual history who ventures with deliberate intent into political philosophy, judging what he sees.”—Harvey Mansfield,
Weekly StandardReview
"Rahe's volume does the further service...of exposing this dilemma regarding how to break through the amnesia of the late-modern liberal era without reinforcing its disdain for those backward minds that have not yet caught the wave of egalitarian and perpetually self-constructed liberation."--Paul O. Carrese, Journal of the Review of Politics
Review
andldquo;The degree of originality in this book is remarkable. Its careful, detailed description and analysis of the Spartan constitution is full of keen understandings that help explain Spartan policy, diplomacy, and strategy.andrdquo;andmdash;Donald Kagan, author of The Peloponnesian War
Review
andldquo;The level of learning demonstrated here is high and the mastery of the source material and scholarship impressive.andrdquo;andmdash;Thomas Figueira, Rutgers University
Review
andldquo;Western civilization owes much to Athens but also, Paul Rahe argues, to Sparta. He shows how Spartaandrsquo;s militaristic culture enabled it to defeat the massive Persian invasion of 480 BC, and make the flowering of ancient Greece possible.andrdquo;andmdash;Michael Barone, Resident Fellow, American Enterprise Institute
Review
andldquo;Polymath Paul Raheandmdash;classicist, historian, scholar of the European Enlightenmentandmdash;in this brilliant revisionist study, reminds us how Sparta, not just Athens, saved Western freedom from the Persian aggressionandmdash;and did so because of its innate courage, political stability, and underappreciated genius.andrdquo;andmdash;Victor Davis Hanson, author of The Other Greeks and A War Like No Other
Synopsis
A fresh appreciation of the pivotal role of Spartan strategy and tactics in the defeat of the mightiest empire of the ancient world
Synopsis
More than 2500 years ago a confederation of small Greek city-states defeated the invading armies of Persia, the most powerful empire in the world. In this meticulously researched study, historian Paul Rahe argues that Sparta was responsible for the initial establishment of the Hellenic defensive coalition and was, in fact, the most essential player in its ultimate victory.
and#160;
Drawing from an impressive range of ancient sources, including Herodotus and Plutarch, the author veers from the traditional Atheno-centric view of the Greco-Persian Wars to examine from a Spartan perspective the grand strategy that halted the Persian juggernaut. Rahe provides a fascinating, detailed picture of life in Sparta circa 480 B.C., revealing how the Spartansandrsquo; form of government and the regimen to which they subjected themselves instilled within them the pride, confidence, discipline, and discernment necessary to forge an alliance that would stand firm against a great empire, driven by religious fervor, that held sway over two-fifths of the human race.
About the Author
Paul A. Rahe is professor of history and political science at Hillsdale College and author of Republics Ancient and Modern: Classical Republicanism and the American Revolution and Against Throne and Altar: Machiavelli and Political Theory under the English Republic.