^Researchers

Mr Daniel Savery 

Tel:   +353 (0) 91 492295 Ext: 2295

Email: D.Savery2nuigalway.ie

Doctoral Research  

Title: Republicanism, Community, and Culture 

Supervisor(s): Dr. Mark Haugaard & Dr. Sinisa Malesevic, School of Political Science & Sociology

ABSTRACT:

This thesis is an examination of the kind of recognition minority cultures are legitimately entitled to receive in a republican framework. Specifically, it considers how to balance these claims against the need for republican political community that we find in the neo-roman republican tradition. At a more general level, it seeks to show how republican theory evaluates the claims for recognition against the demands of solidarity.

Contrary to much received wisdom in contemporary political philosophy, republicans do take seriously the claims of minority cultures for recognition.  This, however, has not always been the case. Originally, republican freedom applied to a distinct group of propertied males at the expense of minorities. For contemporary neo-roman republicans, republican freedom is something to be enjoyed by all members of the political community, not a privileged group. With that said, a number of important questions arise: How does contemporary republican theory approach the issue of ensuring those outside the mainstream culture can enjoy this freedom from arbitrary interference? Is republicanism worth reviving for our modern complex multicultural societies? What does republican theory say about those minority groups that seek to subordinate and dominate some members of their own cultures? And how should these claims be balanced against the demands of republican community? These related set of questions are the motivating concern of this work.

Neo-roman republican theory offers a unique set of answers to these questions. For neo-roman republicans, citizens’ should be free from the arbitrary interference of others. In other words, individuals should be free from domination. Taking this distinctive account of freedom as the starting point, and the institutions it implies, enables republicans to take seriously the claims of minority groups for recognition.  I argue that toleration of minority cultures is not enough; the implication of republican theory demands that we go further. However, and importantly, I also argue that the demands for recognition should not come at the expense of minorities internal to these groups. Republicanism tracks all citizens’ interests, not just the most vocal members of a particular group.

Republican freedom represents a good that leads to a more flourishing life for all members of the community. It is the job of republican institutions to track citizens interests and remedy any structural inequalities, while ensuring the state does not become a form of domination in individuals’ lives. Creating republican community through a respect for the good of republican freedom can act as a bulwark against this potential corruption. Republicanism, I argue, understood in its neo-roman instantiation, provides a sense of community that can work alongside our various cultural attachments. It is not xenophobic or overly exclusive, and enables our cultural identities to sit alongside our political identity.  

Publications:

 Savery, Daniel, 'Justifying Liberal Neutrality to Liberals' Review of Quong, Jonathan 2011 Liberalism Without Perfection. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 330 pp Res Publica: A Journal of Legal and Social Philosophy (2012 forthcoming) [available 'online first']

Savery, Daniel, Review of Gilbert, Paul 2010 Cultural Identity and Political Ethics. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 202 pp Nations and Nationalism (2012 forthcoming)

Savery, Daniel, Review of Mookherjee, Monica 2009 Women's Rights as Multicultural Claims: Reconfiguring Gender and Diversity in Political Philosophy. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 192 pp Political Studies Review (2012 forthcoming)

Conference papers

2011 'Rousseau and the Radical Republican Tradition'. Seventeenth Biennial Colloquium of the Rousseau Association, University of Bristol.

2010 'Re-imagining the Modern Republic'. Brave New World, 15th International Postgraduate Conference, University of Manchester.

2009 'Re-imagining the Modern Republic'. Political Studies Association of Ireland Annual Postgraduate Conference, Queen's University of Belfast.

2009 'Rousseau: Homogeneity and the Modern Republic'. Power, Conflict & Ideologies Research Cluster, School of Political Science & Sociology, NUI Galway. 

Other activities

Co-founder and co-organiser of  Enquiry - A Political Theory Seminar Series  [click for further details]

Teaching

Daniel Savery teaches Introductory Sociology with the Access Course for School Leavers. A course specifically designed for students who have a real desire to study at third level, but are unable due to financial or social reasons. He also teaches SP160 Problems in Sociology and Politics an undergraduate seminar module on the BA programme in Political Science and Sociology.

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