Ideal Theory after Auschwitz? The Practical Uses and Ideological Abuses of Political Theory as Reconciliation

Political theory can serve as a tool for making injustice bearable and resisting it meaningful, offering hope to democratic publics. This study challenges John Rawls' ideal theory of reconciliation, which risks defending unjust status quos due to its methodology. Instead, it proposes Theodor Adorno's approach as a more democratic alternative, providing practical uses for political theory beyond directing action while avoiding ideological abuses.

McKean, B. L. (2017). Ideal Theory after Auschwitz? The Practical Uses and Ideological Abuses of Political Theory as Reconciliation. The Journal of Politics, 79(4), 1177–1190. https://doi.org/10.1086/692589