Political Community, Identity, and Cosmopolitan Place

Abstract

Considers how to connect the philosophical & geographical discourse on place with that about the democratic political community. An exploration of the idea of democratic place-making reveals the relationship of place with particularism as well as the explicit & implicit role played by place in discussions of political community. Consideration is given to moral issues surrounding debates about the European Union (EU); different visions of political community that frame discussions about the EU's future; the tension in democratic theory between its defense of universal justice & practical aspects of governance in limited places; & how the connection between place & subject demonstrates that visions of democratic political community involve both implicit geographies & conceptions of self. Emphasis is placed on the need for a spirit of "cosmopolitan place" which grounds individuals in a local context while simultaneously advancing their ability to empathize across borders. It is concluded that the establishment of "good places" in democratic societies requires maintaining a balance between particularistic & universalistic ends. J. Lindroth