A renewed approach to democratic ethics is needed one that takes into consideration the
management of complexity and memory in a global world. The expansion of democratic ethics for
the stewardship of a postnational postmetaphysical and postsecular world is the object of
this book. It takes as its point of departure current proposals for global democratic justice
but extends these by incorporating contemporary European ideas on border and existential
ethics. The privilege of democratic citizenship includes our conscious involvement with our
historical destinies and with others whom we inevitably encounter on our journey of
contemporary politics. A post-heroic approach to democratic ethics one which takes violence
and injustice seriously yet understands the constraints posed on us as historical beings is
necessary. The practices of civility such as they arise from a normative democratic universe
and the ever-increasing role of civil society can be harnessed for a transborder ethics. The
examination of a contemporary democratic anthropology that includes a phenomenology of violence
further clarifies the importance of intersubjective processes of encounter dialogue and
recognition.
