Political Theory: An Introduction 1137437286, 9781137437280

Table of contents :
Summary of Contents
Contents
List of Illustrative Material
Traditions
Featured Thinkers
Beyond the West
Thinking globally
Table
Preface to the Fourth Edition
1 What is Political Theory?
Preview
Defining political theory
Politics as science, philosophy and theory
Political theory in transition
Uses and abuses of political concepts
Normative and descriptive concepts
Contested concepts
Words and things
How to use this book
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION
FURTHER READING
2 Human Nature, the Individual and Society
Preview
Human nature
Nature versus nurture
Intellect versus instinct
Competition versus cooperation
The individual
Individualism
Individual and community
The individual in politics
Society
Collectivism
Theories of society
Social cleavages
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION
FURTHER READING
3 Politics, Government and the State
Preview
Politics
The art of government
Public affairs
Power and resources
Government
Why have government?
Governments and governance
Political systems
The state
Government and the state
Theories of the state
Role of the state
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION
FURTHER READING
4 Sovereignty, the Nation and Transnationalism
Preview
Sovereignty
Legal and political sovereignty
Internal sovereignty
External sovereignty
The nation
What is a nation?
In defence of the nation
Nationalism and world politics
Transnationalism
Globalization and post-sovereignty
Transnational communities and diasporas
Towards a cosmopolitan future?
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION
FURTHER READING
5 Power, Authority and Legitimacy
Preview
Power
Decision-making
Agenda-setting
Thought control
Authority
Power and authority
Kinds of authority
Defenders and detractors
Legitimacy
Constitutionalism and consent
Ideological hegemony
Legitimation crises
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION
FURTHER READING
6 Democracy, Representation and the Public Interest
Preview
Democracy
Direct and indirect democracy
Liberal democracy
Virtues and vices of democracy
Representation
Representatives or delegates?
Elections and mandates
Characteristic representation
The public interest
Private and public interests
Is there a public interest?
Dilemmas of democracy
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION
FURTHER READING
7 Law, Order and Justice
Preview
Law
The rule of law
Natural and positive law
Law and liberty
Order
Discipline and control
Natural harmony
Justifying punishment
Justice
Procedural justice
Substantive justice
Justifying law-breaking?
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION
FURTHER READING
8 Rights, Obligations and Citizenship
Preview
Rights
Legal and moral rights
Human rights
Animal and other rights?
Obligations
Contractual obligations
Natural duty
Rebellion and the limits of obligation
Citizenship
Elements of citizenship
Social or active citizenship?
Universal citizenship and diversity
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION
FURTHER READING
9 Freedom, Toleration and Identity
Preview
Freedom
Liberty and licence
Negative freedom
Positive freedom
Toleration
Toleration and difference
The case for toleration
The limits of toleration?
Identity
Identity and the politics of recognition
Gender and identity
Culture and identity
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION
FURTHER READING
10 Equality, Social Justice and Welfare
Preview
Equality
Formal equality
Equality of opportunity
Equality of outcome
Social justice
According to needs
According to rights
According to deserts
Welfare
Welfare, poverty and social exclusion
In praise of welfare
Welfare: roll-back or reform?
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION
FURTHER READING
11 Property, the Market and Planning
Preview
Property
Private property
Common property
State property
The market
The market mechanism
Miracle of the market
Market flaws and failures
Planning
The planning process
Promise of planning
Perils of planning
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION
FURTHER READING
12 Security, War and World Order
Preview
Security
National security
Collective security
Human security
War
War as a continuation of politics
‘Old’ wars to ‘new’ wars?
Just and unjust wars
World order
Multipolarity and world order
Civilizations in conflict?
Multilateralism and perpetual peace
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION
FURTHER READING
13 Tradition, Progress and Utopia
Preview
Tradition
Defending the status quo
Reclaiming the past
Change in order to conserve
Progress
The forward march of history
Progress through reform
Progress through revolution
Utopia
Features of utopianism
Political utopias
End of utopia?
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION
FURTHER READING
Bibliography
Index