The History of Political Theory and Other Essays

A collection of penetrating essays on political thought - past, present and future - by a major commentator.

John Dunn (Author)

9780521497077, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 14 December 1995

250 pages
22.9 x 15.2 x 1.6 cm, 0.51 kg

"John Dunn's complex persona, as both Cambridge historian of political ideas and political scientist is nicely exemplified in this recent collection of essays....he remains an important voice and one who should be listened to not simply by historians of political thought." P.J. Kelly, Canadian Journal of Political Science

In this collection of essays, John Dunn brings his characteristically acute and penetrative insight to a wide range of political issues. In the first essay, 'The history of political theory', Professor Dunn argues for the importance of a historical perspective in the study of political thought. Other pieces engage with central concepts of political philosophy such as obligation, trust, freedom of conscience and property. A group of studies tackle specific contemporary problems and future dangers, for example racism and the dilemma of humanitarian intervention. The volume as a whole articulates the many dangers, but also the huge importance of, contemporary politics, and provides a representative collection of work by one of the most astute political commentators writing today.

1. Introduction
2. The history of political theory
3. Contractualism
4. Political obligation
5. Trust
6. The claim to freedom of conscience: freedom of speech, freedom of thought, freedom of worship?
7. Property, justice and common good after socialism
8. The dilemma of humanitarian intervention: the executive power of the Law of Nature after God
9. Specifying and understanding racism
10. Political science, political theory, and policymaking in an interdependent world
11. Democracy: the politics of making, defending and exemplifying community: Europe 1992
12. Is there a contemporary crisis of the nation state?
13. Political and economic obstacles to rapid collective learning
14. The heritage and future of the European left.

Subject Areas: History of ideas [JFCX]