ABSTRACT
In chapter 4 (“Towards a Polymorphous Democracy”), Lucy Cane continues her examination of the prescriptive aspect of Wolin’s work by outlining his efforts to develop a more complex conception of democracy that he calls “polymorphous.” His localist vision pointed to a preference for small-scale forms of democracy, from customary practices to local governments. The small-scale forms that Wolin values are de-emphasized by advocates of formlessness such as Jacques Rancière and by theorists of large-scale institutional forms such as Jürgen Habermas. When Wolin later confronts the melancholia of this vision, and theorizes democracy as “fugitive,” he comes also to value the formless, transgressive style of politics championed by Rancière. He sees through loss by appreciating a productive tension between localism and transgression. Nevertheless, Wolin remains suspicious of the fast-paced culture and technological innovations he associates with transgressive politics. Later, Wolin’s growing appreciation of constitutional guarantees and large-scale institutions further enhances his claim that democracy is polymorphous. Yet, Cane argues that, in light of globalized capitalism and climate change, a polymorphous approach to democracy must not indulge in melancholia for the modern nation-state system. Rather, it must recognize some place for global civil society and institutions of transnational governance.
