Civil society, 1750-1914
By: Stefan-Ludwig Hoffmann
Series: Studies in European history; Studies in European history (Basingstoke, England)
Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan
Published: 2006
Place of publication: Basingstoke [England]; New York
Language: eng
Number of pages: 107
Subjects: Civil society; Democracy
Description: "Using Alexis de Tocqueville's view on the exceptionalism of American democracy as his starting point, Stefan-Ludwig Hoffmann argues that American society was less exceptional than Tocqueville suggests, given the enthusiasm for voluntary associations among practitioners of civil society in Britain, France, Germany, the Habsburg Empire, and Russia. Hoffmann shows the transference and adaptation of ideas and practices of civil society across national borders. By placing the tension between 'democracy' and 'civil society' at the centre of the book, Hoffmann's account reveals the dilemmas of civil society and provides a concise and incisive introduction to one of the key concepts in Global History."--Jacket.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. 90-103) and index