Irrational Publics and the Fate of Democracy by Stephen J.A. Ward

Once, a friend asked me why I wasn’t (yet) an academic librarian, because I was so scholarly. I scoffed at her, and said I wasn’t really all that scholarly. Then I probably went to do something insufferable, like skim a medical textbook for greater context for a literature search. Jokes on me, though, because I am an academic librarian now and am even more entrenched in reading The Literature. All of this is a very long way to say this is why I wanted to read and review Irrational Publics and the Fate of Democracy by Stephen J.A. Ward, even though it’s probably going to only appeal to a small number of our readers. Or perhaps you’re looking for a meaty academic text to sink your teeth into, and certainly Irrational Publics and the Fate of Democracy is meaty, and also a remarkably readable example of a philosophy and politics text.

Irrational Publics and the Fate of Democracy is meaty, and also a remarkably readable example of a philosophy and politics text.

Listen, I’ve read a lot of academic literature, across many disciplines. A lot of it is very interesting but impossible to read because it’s written so poorly. Ward is a journalist, and while this is a dense, academic text tracing irrationality through the ages, linking multiple thinkers and political events across the ages (largely Western examples), this is very clearly and cleanly written. You can follow it easily. Ward does not hide his arguments in obscure, convoluted language. And this, above anything else I could tell you about it, is very important to a review of the book.

Irrational Publics and the Fate of Democracy is divided into three parts: the first is “The Pendulum of Irrationality,” setting the stage. Ward uses this section to establish his philosophical bent, and making sure the reader understands the context and thinkers he is in conversation with. The second, “Irrational Publics,” deals with a number of very specific examples of irrationality throughout history, largely Western examples. The third section, titled “Explaining Irrational Publics,” seeks to explore the reason that irrationality is bred in the public, and what it causes. In the epilogue, Ward presents what he thinks may happen, particularly with the swing to irrationality we appear to be going through right now. Notably, he does not present any solutions, stating that he feels there are others who would be better suited to provide those.

I would have liked to read this book as part of a class, to discuss it with others. It is something that you may not want to read alone, because of the volume of thought in it, and particularly if you haven’t read a lot of scholarly literature lately (and even if you have. I read some yesterday). I found it fairly interesting, and will be revisiting it, I’m sure, in the very near future, to help puzzle out what on earth is going on right now.

Stephen J.A. Ward is professor emeritus and Distinguished Lecturer in Ethics at the University of British Columbia and award-winning author and editor of 13 books on ethics and media ethics, including Objectively Engaged Journalism: An Ethic.

Publisher: McGill-Queen’s University Press (October 15, 2024)
Paperback 6″ x 9″ | 450 pages
ISBN: 9780228020035

Alison Manley

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Alison Manley has ricocheted between New Brunswick and Nova Scotia for most of her life. Now in Halifax, Nova Scotia, she is the Cataloguing and Metadata Librarian at Saint Mary's University. Her past life includes a long stint as a hospital librarian on the banks of the mighty Miramichi River. She has an honours BA in political science and English from St. Francis Xavier University, and a Master of Library and Information Studies from Dalhousie University. While she's adamant that her love of reading has nothing to do with her work, her ability to consume large amounts of information very quickly sure is helpful. She is often identified by her very red lipstick, and lives with her partner Brett and cat, Toasted Marshmallow.