The Modern State and Its Enemies considers the historical intellectual developments that provided the fundaments of the modern state, informed the key theoretical questions arising in the democratic context, and shaped the relationship between (state) sovereignty and (individual) liberty. The modern state as a nation-state is thus based on the relationship between its territory, its people and its sovereign authority. As a result, nationalism and minorities policy are issues that are key to the state's self-conception. But historically, these have also been repeatedly used as weapons against the state, manifesting in separatism, irredentism and antidemocratic agitation. Both antisemitism and right-wing extremism have always stood in opposition to the democratic state and continue to do so. Antisemitism in particular is antithetical to modernity as it fundamentally rejects equality and individual liberty. This book presents its arguments in theoretical, historical and sociological terms, with a particular focus on examples from the German context.
Industry Reviews
"The ten chapters and a framing introduction [of this book] do exactly what the title promises: [provide] an incisive analysis of modern statehood-particularly in western Europe-and the implacably opposed ideologies, groups and individuals that threaten contemporary liberal democracy. [...] Excellent and of direct interest to theorists of liberalism, those engaged with the praxis of democracy, and all concerned with good governance and its impediments."
-Matthew Feldman, Director, Centre for Analysis of the Radical Right, Great Britain
