The Rugged Individualist Club: The paradox of the i/Individual in American Governance
Open AccessThis dissertation interrogates the concept of the individual, examining how it shapes American theories of governance. I argue that individual is a complex sociopolitical term that invisibly aggregates multiple notions of the subject and multiple kinds of social relationships. In this dissertation I unpack this term, exploring the hidden implications for governance. I begin by articulating a "paradox of the i/Individual," highlighting the tensions created between rhetorical emphasis on autonomy and social structures in which persons must act as functionaries within groups. The paradox of the i/Individual is then complicated through the development of a typology of four separate types of i/Individualisms: atomistic Individualism, institutional individualism, fragmented Individualism, and integrated individualism. These types of i/Individual(ism)s are determined based on two key characteristics: the relationship of the subject to the community - isolated or embedded; and the nature of the subject - unitary or fragmented. The paradox of the i/Individual and these four distinct types of i/Individual(ism)s are traced from the roots of American political history through the literature of public administration. After careful examination, I advocate a purposeful shift toward a foundation of integrated individualism in governance. In closing, I argue for continued critical examination of the foundational assumptions underlying our theories of governance, and propose the typology of i/Individualisms as a sociopolitical lens and theoretical tool for this purpose.
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