The culture of democracy : a sociological approach to civil society

From a committed global perspective, Bin Xu provides a systematic survey of the cultural sociology of civil society. When everyone is eager to have their voice heard, cultural sociology can serve as an art of listening, a thoroughly empirical approach that takes ideas, meanings, and opinions seriously as people grapple with significant theoretical and public issues. Central to this cultural aspect of civil society is the “culture of democracy,” including normative values, individual interpretations, and interaction norms pertaining to features of a democratic society, such as civility, independence, and solidarity. The culture of democracy varies in different contexts and faces challenges, but it shapes civic actions, alters political and social processes, and thus is the soul of modern civil societies. --Adapted from publisher's description.