Rhetoric Review Jan 2020

On Radical Friendliness: Productive Citizenship in an Age of Division

Jeffrey St. Onge Twitter (United States)

Abstract

This essay addresses the deep division and antagonism in political culture, focusing on rhetorical approaches to citizenship conducive to an agonistic pluralism where a multiplicity of viewpoints exist under a larger framework of cooperation. Specifically, it draws on a diverse set of ideas within the rhetorical tradition and popular culture to examine and advocate for “radical friendliness” as a positive and potentially transformative mode of interaction. Friendliness—the observable, rhetorical dimension of friendship—is geared toward identification and consubstantiality and as such, provides one path toward a more productive democratic community.

Journal
Rhetoric Review
Published
2020-01-02
DOI
10.1080/07350198.2019.1690371
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Topics
modern rhetorical theory rhetorical criticism
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