Introduction to Political Theory

by Hoffman, John; Graham, Paul

• ISBN13: 9780582473737
• ISBN10: 058247373X
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2006-02-24
• Publisher: Pearson

Summary

";A lucid and highly engaging introduction to political theory that is both comprehensive and accessible without being simplistic";Laura Brace, LeicesterUniversity ";A 'must' for all students of politics and teachers of political theory. It offers a real feast of theory, covering all the bases, from the philosophical to the ideological and historical";Jules Townshend, Manchester Metropolitan UniversityIntroduction to Political Theory is a text for the 21st century. It shows students why an understanding of theory is crucial to an understanding of political issues. Bringing together classical and contemporary political ideas and ideologies into one book, this new text introduces the major ideologies that have shaped the modern world and the ideas that form the currency of political debate. This comprehensive new text relates political ideas to political realities through effective use of examples and cases studies making political theory lively, contentious and relevant. A wide range of pedagogical features helps to clarify, extend and apply students' understanding of the fundamental ideologies and concepts. This is comprised of: Case studies demonstrate how political ideas, concepts and issues manifest in the real world An innovative 'How to Read' feature helps students to get to grips with primary texts 'Ideas and Perspectives' encourage students to appreciate alternative viewpoints Biographies of key political figures provide a useful context to concepts and theories A range of thought provoking photographs challenge students to examine concepts from a different angle Suggestions for further reading and weblinks are also provided to help students to further their understandingIntroduction to Political Theory is accompanied by an innovative website with Multiple Choice Questions, further case studies and links to political theory web resourcesProfessor John Hoffman lectures at LeicesterUniversityDr Paul Graham lectures at GlasgowUniversityAided by the use of 'real life' examples which bring classic as well as contemporary ideas to life, it conveys a real sense of intellectual excitement, challenge and relevanceVal Bryson, HuddersfieldUniversity

Table of Contents

Guide to Features	xx
Guided Tour	xxiv
Publisher's Acknowledgements	xxvi
Authors' Acknowledgements	xxvii
About the Authors	xxix
Introduction
Theory as Abstraction	xxxi
The Distinction between Facts and Values	xxxii
The Problem with the Contestability Thesis	xxxiii
Structure of the Book	xxxv
Questions	xxxvii
Part 1 Classical Ideas
What is Power?	2	(2)
The Link with Other Concepts	4	(1)
Power and Authority: an Indissoluble Link?	5	(1)
Does a Broad View of Politics Help?	6	(1)
Negative and Positive Power	7	(1)
Negative and Positive Power as a Relationship	8	(1)
Three-dimensional Power and the Problem of Power and Authority	9	(1)
Accounting for the `Indissoluble Link'	10	(1)
References	11	(3)
The State	14	(24)
Introduction	14	(1)
Chapter Map	14	(1)
Test Case: Changing States: Hitler's Rise to Power	15	(1)
How Modern is the Concept of the State?	16	(1)
Defining the State	17	(3)
The Force Argument	17	(1)
The Centrality of Will	18	(1)
The State as a Mixture of Will and Force	19	(1)
Force and the Modernity Argument	20	(2)
The Argument against the Concept of the State	22	(3)
The Behaviouralist Argument	22	(1)
The Argument of David Easton	22	(1)
David Easton's Concept of the Political System	23	(1)
The Linguistic and Radical Argument	24	(1)
Problems with the Argument against the State	25	(5)
The Argument of David Easton	25	(1)
The Question of Existence	26	(1)
Force and Statelessness	27	(1)
The Distinction between Force and Constraint, State and Government	27	(1)
The Argument So Far . . .	28	(2)
State and Sovereignty	30	(1)
Sovereignty as a Modern Concept	30	(1)
Sovereignty as a Broad Concept	30	(1)
Problems with the Theories of State Sovereignty	31	(2)
Difficulties with the Modernist Conception	31	(1)
The Broad View of State Sovereignty	32	(1)
Rescuing the Idea of Sovereignty	33	(1)
Moving to a Stateless World	33	(2)
Summary	35	(1)
Questions	36	(1)
References	36	(1)
Further Reading	37	(1)
Weblinks	37	(1)
Freedom	38	(22)
Introduction	38	(1)
Chapter Map	38	(1)
Test Case: Smoking in the Last Chance Saloon?	39	(1)
Freedom	40	(1)
Mill's Defence of Freedom	41	(5)
Freedom of Thought and Expression	43	(1)
Freedom of Action	44	(2)
Criticisms and Developments	46	(7)
Harm to Others	46	(1)
Consent	47	(1)
Harm to Self	48	(1)
Offensiveness	49	(3)
Harmless Wrongdoing	52	(1)
Smoking Ban Reconsidered	53	(3)
Harm to Others	54	(1)
Consent	54	(1)
Harm to Self	55	(1)
Offensiveness	56	(1)
Summary	56	(1)
Questions	56	(1)
References	57	(1)
Further Reading	57	(1)
Weblinks	57	(3)
Equality	60	(22)
Introduction	60	(1)
Chapter Map	60	(1)
Test Case: What do People Deserve?	61	(1)
Principles of Equality	62	(3)
Moral Equality	65	(3)
Moral Autonomy and Moral Equality	65	(1)
Moral Inequality: a Caste Society	66	(2)
Legal Equality	68	(2)
Equal Liberties	70	(4)
Do Freedom and Equality Conflict?	70	(4)
Material Equality	74	(4)
Equal Access	74	(1)
Equality of Opportunity	75	(1)
Equality of Outcome	76	(1)
Affirmative Action	77	(1)
Summary	78	(1)
Questions	79	(1)
References	79	(1)
Further Reading	79	(1)
Weblinks	80	(2)
Justice	82	(22)
Introduction	82	(1)
Chapter Map	82	(1)
Test Case: A Neet Solution?	83	(1)
Theories of Just Distribution	84	(1)
Rawls: an Egalitarian Liberal Theory of Justice	85	(7)
The Original Position	86	(1)
Motivation in the Original Position	86	(2)
What would be Chosen in the Original Position?	88	(1)
The Democratic Conception: the Two Principles of Justice	89	(1)
Would we really Choose the Difference Principle?	90	(2)
Nozick: a Libertarian Theory of Justice	92	(4)
Nozick's Starting Point: Private Property Rights	92	(1)
Just Acquisition: Locke and Nozick	93	(2)
Just Transfer	95	(1)
Rectification	96	(1)
Cohen: a Marxist Perspective on Distributive Justice	96	(6)
Cohen contra Nozick	98	(1)
Cohen contra Rawls	99	(3)
Summary	102	(1)
Questions	102	(1)
References	102	(1)
Further Reading	103	(1)
Weblinks	103	(1)
Democracy	104	(24)
Introduction	104	(1)
Chapter Map	104	(1)
Test Case: Inside the Voting Booth	105	(1)
Democracy and Confusion	106	(1)
Democracy and Liberalism	107	(2)
The Problem of Exclusion	109	(2)
The `Tyranny of the Majority' Thesis	111	(1)
The Problem of Participation	112	(1)
Solutions to the Problem of Low Participation	113	(2)
Representational and Direct Democracy	115	(2)
The Argument So Far . . .	116	(1)
Democracy and the State	117	(3)
The Ancient Greek Polity and the Problem with Liberalism	120	(1)
Democracy and the Relational Argument	121	(2)
Summary	123	(1)
Questions	124	(1)
References	125	(1)
Further Reading	125	(1)
Weblinks	126	(2)
Citizenship	128	(34)
Introduction	128	(1)
Chapter Map	128	(1)
Test Case: `Being British': Pride, Passports and Princes	129	(1)
Citizenship and Liberalism	130	(1)
Citizenship and Class	130	(1)
Citizenship, Marshall and Social Rights	131	(3)
Citizenship and the New Right	134	(2)
Citizenship and the Case for a Basic Income	136	(1)
Citizenship and Women	137	(3)
Global Citizenship	140	(3)
The Argument So Far . . .	141	(2)
Citizenship within the European Union	143	(2)
Does the State Undermine Citizenship?	145	(1)
The Problem of Class	146	(3)
Citizenship as a Relational Concept	149	(2)
Summary	151	(1)
Questions	151	(1)
References	152	(1)
Further Reading	153	(1)
Weblinks	153	(1)
Part 2 Classical Ideologies
What is Ideology?	154	(1)
Origins' and Development of the Term	155	(2)
Isms as Ideologies	157	(2)
Mannheim's Paradox: Are We Stuck?	159	(1)
Facts, Values and the State	160	(1)
References	161	(1)
Liberalism	162	(24)
Introduction	162	(1)
Chapter Map	162	(1)
Test Case: Prostitution Laws in Sweden	163	(1)
The Meaning of Liberalism	164	(1)
Liberalism as Toleration	165	(5)
The Reformation and Wars of Religion	165	(4)
Toleration	169	(1)
Contractarianism	170	(5)
Rights-based Liberalism	175	(4)
Locke	175	(2)
Kant	177	(2)
Utilitarianism	179	(2)
Conclusion: the Swedish Case Study	181	(2)
Summary	183	(1)
Questions	183	(1)
References	184	(1)
Further Reading	184	(1)
Weblinks	184	(2)
Conservatism	186	(22)
Introduction	186	(1)
Chapter Map	186	(1)
Test Case: Reform or Revolution?	187	(1)
Conservatism: an Elusive Ideology?	188	(2)
Basic Elements of Conservatism	188	(2)
David Hume	190	(4)
Edmund Burke	194	(3)
Michael Oakeshott	197	(4)
Leo Strauss and American Neo-conservatism	201	(3)
Summary	204	(1)
Questions	204	(1)
References	205	(1)
Further Reading	205	(1)
Weblinks	205	(3)
Socialism	208	(30)
Introduction	208	(1)
Chapter Map	208	(1)
Test Case: Tanks in the Streets of Prague	209	(1)
The Problem of Variety	210	(1)
Defining Socialism	210	(1)
The Problem of Utopia	211	(1)
Science and the `Utopian Socialists'	212	(4)
Introducing Marxism	216	(2)
The Authoritarian Consequences of `Scientific Socialism'	218	(7)
The Inevitability Argument	219	(5)
The Concept of Class War and the Problem of Morality	224	(1)
The Dilemma of Democratic Socialism	225	(1)
Eduard Bernstein and the German Socialists	226	(1)
Bernstein, Revisionism and the British Tradition	226	(1)
Bernstein's Argument	226	(4)
The British Labour Party and the Fabians	228	(1)
The Labour Party, Constitutionalism and the Trade Unions	228	(2)
Blair's Socialism	230	(1)
International Social Democrats	230	(1)
Can Marxism be Rescued?	230	(5)
The Notion of Revolution	230	(1)
The Inevitability Problem and the Liberal Tradition	231	(1)
The Question of Class and Agency	232	(2)
Socialism and Inevitability	234	(1)
The Problem of Utopianism	235	(1)
Summary	236	(1)
Questions	236	(1)
References	236	(1)
Further Reading	237	(1)
Weblinks	237	(1)
Anarchism	238	(24)
Introduction	238	(1)
Chapter Map	238	(1)
Test Case: Death in Genoa	239	(1)
The Relationship with Socialism	240	(1)
Philosophical Anarchists	240	(3)
Free Market Anarchists	243	(2)
Anti-capitalist Anarchists: Proudhon, Bakunin and Kropotkin	245	(4)
The Argument So Far . . .	249	(1)
Republican Spain and the Anarchist Experience	249	(3)
The Problem of Violence	252	(1)
Anarchism and the New Social Movements	253	(1)
The Problem of Organisation and Relationships	254	(2)
The Problem of Hierarchy	256	(1)
The Question of Self-determination and Constraint	257	(1)
Anarchism and the Distinction between State and Government	258	(2)
Summary	260	(1)
Questions	260	(1)
References	260	(1)
Further Reading	261	(1)
Weblinks	261	(1)
Nationalism	262	(24)
Introduction	262	(1)
Chapter Map	262	(1)
Test Case: Mountains, Muesli, Cuckoo Clocks and Yodellers	263	(1)
Nations and Nationalism	264	(7)
Definitions	264	(2)
Modernism versus Perennialism	266	(1)
Modernist Theories	267	(3)
Perennialist Theories	270	(1)
Nationalism: the Ethical Debate	271	(5)
Implications of the Modernist--Perennialist Debate	271	(1)
State versus Nation	272	(1)
Civic Nationalism and Ethnic Nationalism	273	(2)
Nationalism and Exclusivity	275	(1)
Liberalism and Nationalism: Mill and Herder	276	(4)
Liberalism versus Nationalism	276	(1)
John Stuart Mill	277	(1)
Johann Gottfried von Herder	278	(2)
Socialism and Nationalism: Marx and Engels	280	(1)
Conclusion: Banal Nationalism	281	(1)
Summary	282	(1)
Questions	282	(1)
References	283	(1)
Further Reading	284	(1)
Weblinks	284	(2)
Fascism	286	(38)
Introduction	286	(1)
Chapter Map	286	(1)
Test Case: `Never Again': Contemporary Forms of Fascism	287	(1)
Defining Fascism	288	(2)
Fascism and Communism	288	(1)
Fascism and Religion	289	(1)
Fascism and Liberalism	289	(1)
Fascism and Conservatism	290	(1)
Fascism in Italy	290	(5)
Nationalism and War	291	(1)
Corporativism, Violence and the State	291	(2)
Intellectual Roots	293	(2)
Fascism in Germany	295	(6)
A Brief History	295	(1)
Anti-capitalism	296	(1)
Statism, Women and Colonialism	297	(4)
Fascism and Capitalism	301	(3)
Fascism, Liberalism and the Enlightenment	304	(2)
The State of Nature, Equality and the Individual	304	(1)
Nationalism	305	(1)
Rationality	305	(1)
Fascism, Stalinism and the State	306	(2)
Stalinism	306	(2)
Fascism Today	308	(4)
The Unrepentant Apologists	308	(1)
The Holocaust Deniers	308	(1)
The Critical Fascists	309	(1)
Eurofascism	309	(1)
Nationalist Salvation	309	(3)
Summary	312	(1)
Questions	313	(1)
References	313	(1)
Further Reading	314	(1)
Weblinks	314	(2)
Part 3 Contemporary Ideologies
What is a New Social Movement?	316	(2)
Social and Economic Change	318	(3)
Critique of Classical Ideologies	321	(1)
References	322	(2)
Feminism	324	(26)
Introduction	324	(1)
Chapter Map	324	(1)
Test Case: Women's Work?	325	(1)
Liberal Feminism	326	(2)
Mary Wollstonecraft	326	(1)
John Stuart Mill	327	(1)
Liberal Feminism in Britain and the United States	327	(1)
Problems with Liberal Feminism	328	(3)
Radical Feminist Critique	329	(1)
Socialist Feminist Critique	329	(1)
Other Critiques	330	(1)
Socialist Feminism	331	(3)
Engels's Contribution	331	(1)
Bebel and Later Socialists	332	(1)
Women in the Communist Party States	332	(1)
The Domestic Labour Debate	333	(1)
Problems with Socialist Feminism	334	(1)
Liberal Feminist Critique	334	(1)
Radical Feminist Critique	334	(1)
Black Feminist and the Philosophical Feminist Critique	335	(1)
Radical Feminism	335	(2)
Problems with Radical Feminism	337	(3)
Liberal Feminist Critique	337	(1)
Socialist Feminist Critique	338	(1)
Black Feminist and the Philosophical Feminist Critique	338	(2)
Black Feminism	340	(1)
Problems with Black Feminism	341	(1)
Liberal, Socialist and Radical Feminist Critiques	341	(1)
The Critique of Philosophical Feminisms	342	(1)
Philosophical Feminisms	342	(2)
Feminist Empiricism	342	(1)
Standpoint Feminism	343	(1)
Postmodern Feminism	343	(1)
Problems with the Philosophical Feminisms	344	(2)
Liberal Feminist Critique	344	(1)
Socialist, Radical and Black Feminist Critiques	344	(2)
Summary	346	(1)
Questions	347	(1)
References	347	(1)
Further Reading	348	(1)
Weblinks	348	(2)
Multiculturalism	350	(20)
Introduction	350	(1)
Chapter Map	350	(1)
Test Case: Religious Dress Ban: Equality or Oppression?	351	(1)
What is Multiculturalism?	352	(1)
Culture, Race, Ethnicity and Religion	352	(4)
Culture	352	(2)
Race and Ethnicity	354	(1)
Religion	355	(1)
Multiculturalism, Liberalism and Modernity	356	(2)
Models of Multiculturalism	358	(7)
Jeremy Waldron: Hybridity	359	(1)
Will Kymlicka: Right to Cultural Membership	360	(1)
James Tully: Constitutional Diversity	361	(1)
John Rawls: Overlapping Consensus	362	(1)
Edward Said: Critique of Orientalism	363	(2)
Assessment: Identity, Reason and Freedom	365	(1)
Multiculturalism: the New Wars of Religion?	366	(1)
Summary	367	(1)
Questions	367	(1)
References	367	(1)
Further Reading	368	(1)
Weblinks	368	(2)
Ecologism	370	(22)
Introduction	370	(1)
Chapter Map	370	(1)
Test Case: Nuclear Power? Yes Please!	371	(1)
Ecologism or Environmentalism?	372	(1)
Environmental Crisis and Green Politics	373	(2)
Environmental Crisis	373	(1)
Green Politics	374	(1)
Aldo Leopold and the `Land Ethic'	375	(3)
Arne Naess and `Deep Ecology'	378	(3)
Garrett Hardin and the Ethics of the Lifeboat	381	(2)
Summary and Criticisms of Ecologism	383	(6)
Summary of Ecologism	383	(1)
Criticisms of Ecologism	384	(5)
Summary	389	(1)
Questions	390	(1)
References	390	(1)
Further Reading	390	(1)
Weblinks	391	(1)
Fundamentalism	392	(26)
Introduction	392	(1)
Chapter Map	392	(1)
Test Case: The Diversity of Fundamentalisms	393	(1)
Label or Concept?	394	(1)
Fundamentalism and Religion	394	(2)
Fundamentals and Fundamentalism	396	(1)
Modernity and Tradition	397	(1)
Fundamentalism, Democracy and Violence	398	(2)
What is Islamic Fundamentalism?	400	(3)
US Fundamentalism and the Religious Right	403	(2)
Jewish Fundamentalism and the Israeli State	405	(4)
The `Clash of Civilisations': a Fundamental Thesis?	409	(2)
Summary	411	(1)
Questions	411	(1)
References	411	(1)
Further Reading	412	(1)
Weblinks	413	(1)
Part 4 Contemporary Ideas
What do we mean by a New Idea?	414	(4)
Difference	418	(18)
Introduction	418	(1)
Chapter Map	418	(1)
Test Case: `A Protestant State for the Protestant People': Difference in Northern Ireland	419	(1)
Defining Difference	420	(1)
The Problem of the Dominant Identity	421	(2)
Postmodernism/Post-structuralism and Difference	423	(4)
Feminist Theory and Difference	427	(2)
Liberalism and Difference	429	(2)
Democracy and the State	431	(2)
Summary	433	(1)
Questions	433	(1)
References	433	(1)
Further Reading	434	(1)
Weblinks	434	(2)
Human Rights	436	(24)
Introduction	436	(1)
Chapter Map	436	(1)
Test Case: Rough Justice?	437	(1)
Human Rights after Nuremberg	438	(2)
Human Rights Conventions	440	(4)
Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948)	441	(1)
European Convention on Human Rights (1950)	442	(1)
Why the Declaration and the Convention are Significant	443	(1)
What are Rights?	444	(3)
Categorising Rights: Hohfeld's Scheme	444	(2)
Will Theory versus Benefit Theory	446	(1)
Relativism versus Universalism	447	(7)
Intuition and Moral Consensus	448	(1)
International Hypothetical Contract	449	(1)
Rawls and the International Hypothetical Contract	450	(2)
Rational Entailment	452	(2)
Group Rights and Welfare Rights	454	(2)
Group Rights	454	(1)
Welfare Rights	455	(1)
Summary	456	(1)
Questions	457	(1)
References	457	(1)
Further Reading	457	(1)
Weblinks	458	(2)
Civil Disobedience	460	(26)
Introduction	460	(1)
Chapter Map	460	(1)
Test Case: Protest and Survive?	461	(1)
Civil Disobedience and Law-breaking	462	(2)
Law-breaking	462	(2)
Civil Disobedience and Political Obligation	464	(1)
Civil Disobedience and Democracy	464	(5)
Democracy and Obedience	464	(2)
Fair Compromise	466	(1)
Problems with Democracy	467	(2)
Rawls: Civil Disobedience and Conscientious Refusal	469	(6)
The Context	469	(1)
Obligation to Obey the Law	470	(2)
The Nature and Role of Civil Disobedience	472	(2)
Conscientious Refusal	474	(1)
Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Civil Rights Movement	475	(8)
Historical Background to the Civil Rights Movement	476	(1)
The Civil Rights Movement	476	(3)
Martin Luther King, Jr. `Letter from Birmingham City Jail' (1963)	479	(4)
Summary	483	(1)
Questions	483	(1)
References	483	(1)
Further Reading	484	(1)
Weblinks	484	(2)
Terrorism	486	(24)
Introduction	486	(1)
Chapter Map	486	(1)
Test Case: 9/11 and its Legacy	487	(1)
Liberalism and the Question of Violence	488	(1)
The State and Terrorism	488	(1)
An Assessment of Salmi	489	(1)
Distinguishing between Political Violence and Terrorism	490	(2)
Terrorism, Ambiguity and the Liberal State	492	(2)
Marx on the Problem of Terrorism	494	(1)
The Leninist and Maoist Position on Terrorism	495	(2)
A General Theory of Terrorism?	497	(1)
The Roots of Terrorism	498	(2)
The Problem of Terror and the State	500	(1)
The Force/Violence Distinction and the Analysis of Terrorism	501	(2)
The Significance of 9/11	503	(2)
Summary	505	(1)
Questions	506	(1)
References	506	(1)
Further Reading	507	(1)
Weblinks	507	(3)
Victimhood	510	(21)
Introduction	510	(1)
Chapter Map	510	(1)
Test Case: `Arbeit Macht Frei'	511	(1)
Victims and Violence	512	(1)
What is Victimhood?	512	(2)
Victimhood and Power	514	(1)
Are Women Victims?	515	(2)
Dualism, Women and Victimhood	517	(2)
Human Rights and Victimhood: The South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC)	519	(2)
Is Contract an Answer to the Problem of Victimhood?	521	(2)
Victimhood and Denial	523	(2)
The State, Mutuality and Dualism	525	(2)
Summary	527	(1)
Questions	528	(1)
References	528	(1)
Further Reading	529	(1)
Weblinks	529	(2)
Conclusion	531	(2)
Academic Political Theory and Politics	531	(2)
Glossary	533	(8)
Index	541