Politics without Stories
The Liberal Predicament

Conservatives use great stories to prescribe government policy. Liberals engage the world via science and pragmatism, rendering liberalism less inspiring. This book examines this difference.

David Ricci (Author)

9781107170841, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 27 October 2016

250 pages
23.5 x 16 x 1.8 cm, 0.51 kg

'David Ricci argues clearly and cogently that both modern liberal theories and modern liberal politics work against the crafting of grand stories of political meaning and purpose. He hopes that smaller stories of paths to humane improvements can strengthen liberal causes. Ricci's compelling analysis defines central challenges liberals must confront, now and in the years ahead.' Rogers M. Smith, University of Pennsylvania

Liberal candidates, scholars, and activists mainly promote pragmatism rather than large and powerful narratives - which may be called 'alpha stories' for their commanding presence over time. Alternatively, conservative counterparts to such liberals tend to promote their policy preferences in alpha stories praising effective markets, excellent traditions, and limited government. In this face-off, liberals represent a post-Enlightenment world where many modern people, following Max Weber, are 'disenchanted', while many conservatives, echoing Edmund Burke, cherish stories borrowed from the past. Politics without Stories describes this storytelling gap as an electoral disadvantage for liberals because their campaigning lacks, and will continue to lack, the inspiration and shared commitments that great, long-term stories can provide. Therefore, Ricci argues that, for tactical purposes, liberals should concede their post-Enlightenment skepticism and rally around short-term stories designed to frame, in political campaigns, immediate situations which they regard as intolerable. These may help liberals win elections and influence the course of modern life.

1. Political stories
2. Liberal books
3. Philosophical impotence
4. Weber's disenchantment
5. Dewey's pragmatism
6. Shklar's fear
7. Liberal outrage
8. The list syndrome
9. The great retreat
10. What is to be done?

Subject Areas: Political parties [JPL], Political leaders & leadership [JPHL], Conservatism & right-of-centre democratic ideologies [JPFM], Liberalism & centre democratic ideologies [JPFK]