"This book is an illuminating analysis of the transformed problem of political legitimacy that exists in contemporary democracy. It should be read by anyone seriously interested in thinking through the dangers posed by the climate of political distrust that has become normal in democratic regimes... Rosanvallon here undertakes a comprehensive, in-depth investigation of the problem of legitimacy. He provides a ... Read morenew framework and new vocabulary for analyzing the problem and hence proposing a way forward."
Choice "[T]his excellent book should stimulate the reflection of those who seek to better understand the evolution of democracy and its justifications... Rosanvallon's quest for the sources of democratic legitimacy in an uncertain age opens up a fascinating dialogue between the past and present, highlighting how three key countries have struggled with concerns for liberty and the democratic idea."
Survival "[T]he book's main attraction: sharp, self-contained historical accounts of specific issues and ideas, where Rosanvallon's thinking is clearly at its best."
Paulina Ochoa Espejo, European Political Science "An original contribution to the vigorous international debate about democratic authority and legitimacy, this promises to be one of Rosanvallon's most important books."
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