J.S. Mill's Political Thought
A Bicentennial Reassessment

This collection of essays offers a critical reassessment of J. S. Mill's political philosophy to commemorate the two hundredth anniversary of his birth.

Nadia Urbinati (Edited by), Alex Zakaras (Edited by)

9780521860208, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 5 February 2007

400 pages
23.6 x 16 x 2.5 cm, 0.646 kg

' … students and scholars of Mill will find much of interest in these pages.' The Journal of Utilitas

The year 2006 marked the two hundredth anniversary of John Stuart Mill's birth. Though his philosophical reputation has varied greatly, it is now clear that Mill ranks among the most influential modern political thinkers. Despite his enduring influence, the breadth and complexity of Mill's political thought is often underappreciated. While his writings remain a touchstone for debates over liberty and liberalism, many other important dimensions of his political philosophy have until recently been ignored. This book aims to correct such neglect, by illustrating the breadth and depth of Mill's political writings, by drawing together a collection of essays whose authors explore underappreciated elements of Mill's political philosophy. The book shows how Mill's thinking remains pertinent to our own political life in three broad areas - democratic institutions and culture, liberalism, and international politics - and offers a critical reassessment of Mill's political philosophy in light of recent political developments and transformations.

List of contributors
Introduction Nadia Urbaniti and Alex Zakaras
Part I. Liberty and its Limits: 1. Mill on liberty and on the Contagious Diseases Act Jeremy Waldron
2. Rational freedom in John Stuart Mill's feminism Maria Morales
3. The many heads of the hydra: J. S. Mill on despotism Nadia Urbinati
4. J. S. Mill and Liberal Socialism Bruce Baum
5. The method of reform: J. S. Mill's encounter with Bentham and Coleridge Frederick Rosen
Part II. Democracy and the Individual: 6. Bureaucracy, democracy, liberty: some unanswered questions in Mill's politics Alan Ryan
7. Mill in parliament: when should a philosopher compromise? Dennis F. Thompson
8. John Stuart Mill, individuality, and participatory democracy Alex Zakaras
9. Mill's neo-Athenian model of Liberal Democracy Jonathan Riley
10. John Stuart Mill on education and democracy Wendy Donner
Part III. Beyond National Borders: 11. Cosmopolitan patriotism in J. S. Mill's political thought and activism Georgios Varouxakis
12. Mill and the imperial predicament Karuna Mantena
13. Making sense of liberal imperialism Stephen Holmes
14. Mill's 'A Few Words on Non-Intervention': a commentary Michael Walzer
Bibliography
Index.

Subject Areas: Comparative politics [JPB], Politics & government [JP], Social issues & processes [JFF], Social & political philosophy [HPS]