Political Theory: An Introduction

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