The Dissent of the Governed

Stephen L. Carter diagnoses the ailments of the body politic, specifically the reluctance of those in power to acknowledge disagreement. He proposes a new process for responding to dissent, examining the divided American political character with a focus on religion. Carter reinterprets the Declaration of Independence, placing dissent at the core of democratic legitimacy and warning against a liberal constitutional ethos that pressures citizens to conform. He argues that disobedience is sometimes vital for democracy, emphasizing the distinction between challenging norms and the sovereign itself.