Law and Society in a Populist Age: Balancing Individual Rights and the Common Good

The most prevalent and shocking trend in recent global politics is the rise of populism and the corresponding crisis of faith among law-based democratic institutions. These seismic changes demand that greater attention be paid to the role society plays in forming and challenging laws—and how the law copes with these challenges. In Law and Society in a Populist Age, Amitai Etzioni—a leader in sociological thought since the 1960s—argues for a new liberal communitarian approach as an effective response to populism. Covering a broad set of concerns including national security, personal privacy, and freedom of the press, this book offers a timely investigation of the relationship between citizens and the law in our world today.