A political philosopher urged all American citizens to work for the common good of fellow citizens as a means of reviving a sense of community and restoring democracy Tuesday in a lecture on campus.

Jean Bethke Elshtain, professor of social and political ethics at the University of Chicago, opened her lecture on the decline of democracy in the U.S. by announcing that she had some bad news to share. Elshtain’s speech, delivered at the Student Center Auditorium, was a part of the Morton-Kenney lecture series.

In her book, Democracy on Trial, Elshtain said she paints a picture of a political culture in trouble and ponders if the U.S. has the power and imagination to bring ourselves back from decline.

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Elshtain said America needs to stop thinking merely about themselves and consider everyone in the nation’s community. She said as America’s sense of community declines so does democracy.

Democracy requires laws, constitutions, authority in institutions, and it also depends on a democratic disposition, Elshtain said.

This includes a preparedness to work with others for shared ends, a combination of strong convictions coupled with the readiness to negotiate, recognition that one can’t always get what they want, a sense of individuality and a commitment of civic good, Elshtain said.

Elshtain said America is full of mistrust, self-absorption, cynicism, individualism and scandal.

We profess to disdain it (scandal), yet we crave it, Elshtain said.

Overall weakening of democratic society is caused by the rising mistrust and the withdrawal of citizens’ participation in social and political life, Elshtain said.

Elshtain said all forms of socially destructive behaviors are on the rise and it is visible in our children. She said the children of today are born into a society of violence, anger and missing parents.

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She said this leads to a lack of enthusiasm the children will have later in life to do good in society.

It is this social spiritedness that is in jeopardy, Elshtain said. Our social fabric is frayed, and our trust in one another is low. We don’t join as much, and we give less money as an overall percentage of our gross national product to charities.

A renewal of democracy will not be easy for Americans, but all is not lost Elshtain said.

No way of life lasts forever, Elshtain said. We (United States of America) are at least middle-aged, and no political world lasts forever.

Elshtain has a doctorate in politics and has written hundreds of essays for scholarly journals and 11 books. She has taught at Harvard, Vanderbilt and Yale universities, and now teaches at the University of Chicago Divinity School.