Does a global economy render the traditional nation-state obsolete? Does globalization threaten democratic life, or offer it new forms of expression? What are the implications of globalization for our understanding of politics and of national and cultural identities? In The Postnational Constellation, the leading German philosopher and social theorist J?rgen Habermas addresses these and other questions. He explores topics such as the historical and political origins of national identity, the catastrophes and achievements of "e;the long twentieth century,"e; the future of democracy in the wake of the era of the nation-state, the moral and political challenges facing the European Union, and the status of global human rights in the ongoing debate on the sources of cultural identity. In their scope, critical insight, and argumentative clarity, the essays in The Postnational Constellation present a powerful vision of the contemporary political scene and of the challenges and opportunities we face in the new millennium. Those unfamiliar with Habermas's theoretical work will find in this volume a lucid and engaging introduction to one of the world's most influential thinkers. For readers familiar with Habermas's writings, The Postnational Constellation provides an invaluable application of his social and political theories to current political realities.

Does a global economy render the traditional nation-state obsolete?Does globalization threaten democratic life, or offer it new formsof expression? What are the implications of globalization for ourunderstanding of politics and of national and cultural identities?In The Postnational Constellation, the leading Germanphilosopher and social theorist J?rgen Habermas addresses these andother questions. He explores topics such as the historical andpolitical origins of national identity, the catastrophes andachievements of "the long twentieth century," the future ofdemocracy in the wake of the era of the nation-state, the moral andpolitical challenges facing the European Union, and the status ofglobal human rights in the ongoing debate on the sources ofcultural identity. In their scope, critical insight, andargumentative clarity, the essays in The PostnationalConstellation present a powerful vision of the contemporarypolitical scene and of the challenges and opportunities we face inthe new millennium.Those unfamiliar with Habermas's theoretical work will find in thisvolume a lucid and engaging introduction to one of the world's mostinfluential thinkers. For readers familiar with Habermas'swritings, The Postnational Constellation provides aninvaluable application of his social and political theories tocurrent political realities.

Editor's Introduction.Foreword.What is a People? The Frankfurt "Germanists' Assembly" of 1846and the Self-Understanding of the Humanities in theVorm?rz.On the Public Use of History.Learning from Catastrophe? A Look Back at the Short TwentiethCentury.The Postnational Constellation and the Future of Democracy.Remarks on Legitimation through Human Rights.Conceptions of Modernity: A Look Back at Two Traditions.The Differing Rhythms of Philosophy and Politics: HerbertMarcuse at 100.An Argument against Cloning: Three Replies.Notes.Index