Others have argued that political altruism, or what Mansbridge calls
“public spirit,” plays an important, even an essential role in the process of
democratic governance. Sandel, for example, offers an alternative view of
democratic citizenship in which individuals are much more actively engaged
in governance. Citizens look beyond their self-interest to the larger public
interest, adopting a broader and more long-term perspective that requires a
knowledge of public affairs and also a sense of belonging, a concern for the
whole, and a moral bond with the community whose fate is at stake (Sandel
1996, 5–6). Mansbridge argues that this view of citizenship provides a
certain “glue” that holds the political system together. In her view, public
spirit (or political altruism) involves both love and duty, each playing an
important role