Abstract
As a political dissident in communist Hungary, Agnes Heller and her Budapest School colleagues forged a theory and practice of political engagement that offered a democratic alternative to state socialism but maintained a critical tension with Western liberalism. It is out of this neglected body of political thought that new insights can be gained for confronting the shortcomings of liberalism while still maintaining an unerring commitment to democratic politics. Focusing on Heller and her colleagues’ earlier writings, this essay will examine two major themes: the radicalization of democratic citizenship and the notion of the Great Republic. The ultimate goal of this essay is to inquire whether or not Heller's thought offers real insights into transforming the constitutive and practical aspects of democratic politics without undermining its stability.
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