Debates with the Author

Questions, letters, and comments about the book submitted by readers, with John Keane's replies attached.

 

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Laughter and Tears On Being Accused of Spying for MI-6 (A statement)		London, Saturday 1st August: one of those weird moments when glum silence is the most sensible reaction. A colleague telephoned to spill the bad news. ‘This morning, in a preliminary statement before the highest court of the Islamic Republic of Iran’, he began, ‘you were named by the Deputy State Prosecutor as a co-conspirator in an organised attempt to overturn the present regime by means of a velvet coup d’état.’ (Read full story here)
The importance of Daniel O'Connell May 2009		A reader from Ennis, Ireland, criticizes the book for lacking an adequate number of references to Ireland's influence in the history of democracy. The reader especially points out the missing reference to Daniel O'Connell. Read here the reader's point of view and John Keane's reply
Politicians must hand back power to the people 4 June 2009		A sign of the times: with a faint shoulder shrug, my wide-awake 18-year-old has just ripped up his first-ever poll card. He explained that there was nobody to vote for. Who could blame him? This was no act of teenage rebellion but a vote against a corrupted parliament — a reminder that the Westminster model is dying (continues here) This article appeared in the London Evening Standard, 04 June 09, read full article here
Life and death of democracy 9 June 2009		In the build-up to the 1832 Reform Bill, radical critics of sinecures and rotten boroughs condemned old corruption by tapping ­political inspiration from figures such as John Milton, the ­radical ­Puritans, John Locke and John Wilkes. Faced with our own deepening political ­recession, a new corruption fuelled by public disaffection with party politics, parliamentary fiddles and rudderless government, where can we turn for inspiration? (continues here) This article appeared in the Guardian on Wednesday 10 June 2009 on p28 of the Comment & debate section.
Politicians must listen, learn and level with citizens July 3 2009		John Lloyd on academics, democracy, and politicians. Financial Times, July 3 2009: World leaders, the FT reported last week, “seize on stories about MPs’ bloated expenses claims as evidence of moral decay in the UK”. They should think twice before rejoicing over those for whom the bell tolls: for it tolls for them, too, if in a different way. (read full article here)
As the legacy of crisis bites, stronger democracy is vital August 3, 2009		Talk of the end of the Great Recession and a return to normality is premature. Surging profits in the City and Wall Street should remind us that in matters of political economy, the worst is not over(continues here) This article appeared in the Guardian on Tuesday 4 August 2009 on p29 of the Comment & debate section. This article was reprinted by The INDIAN EXPRESS Aug 18, 2009 (LINK HERE)
America is not without fault but... November 17, 2009		Dear Professor Keane I have just finished reading your latest book on democracy and would like to provide you with a couple of comments/observations. I am a retired professional and avid reader... (read full comment)
On the usefulness of Referenda 1 Oct. 2009		John Keane's thoughts on the usefulness of Referenda in general and their relationship with chambers of elected representatives…- read more here
Humbling power's arrogance January 30, 2010		By Malcolm Knox in The Sydney Morning Herald In his new book The Life and Death of Democracy, the Australian-born and British-based politics professor John Keane argues that the 4500-year-old progress of democracy has just entered a new phase. (Read full article here)

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