Nobody Said it Was Easy

• Published date: 01 November 2005
• DOI: 10.1177/0095399705281286
• Date: 01 November 2005
• Author: Kelly B. Campbell
• Subject Matter: Articles

10.1177/0095399705281286ADMINISTRATION & SOCIETY / November 2005Campbell / NOBODY SAID IT WAS EASY

Disputatio Sine Fine

NOBODY SAID IT WAS EASY

Examining the Matryoshka

Dolls of Citizen Engagement

KELLY B. CAMPBELL

Arizona State University

“Theorizing the Authentic” was intended to be a synthesis of the civic

engagement, deliberative democracy, and discourse theory literatures to

evaluate and highlight the points I thought were missing or being over-

looked or assumed. At the time, I was taking a critical and reflective

approach to the issue and as a result specified few answers. My idea was to

instead open up the conversations and challenge those of us interested in

democratic governance to do the same. As a result, the Miller (2005) and

McSwite (2005) responses have done what I asked others to do in my orig-

inal article: interrogate positions and the implications and oversights that

may arise as a result of them. I am thankful to have the opportunity

through Disputatio Sine Fine to continue and expand on this conversation.

The process of creating my own response has forced me to push beyond

my comfort zone as a critical theorist to really construct, develop, and

636

EDITOR’SNOTE: The Disputatio Sine Fine of our January 2005 issue featured an article by

Kelly B. Campbell titled, “Theorizing the Authentic: Identity, Engagement, and Public

Space.” It was followed in the Disputatio Sine Fineof March 2005 with responses from O. C.

McSwite and Hugh Miller.In this issue, Campbell’s rejoinder is printed. (It would perhaps

have been moretimely if it had appeared in our May 2005 issue but was delayed by the con-

tinuing give and take over pragmatism.)

ADMINISTRATION & SOCIETY, Vol. 37 No. 5, November 2005 636-648

DOI: 10.1177/0095399705281286

© 2005 Sage Publications