Introduction to Contemporary Political Theory

`This text provides an up to date account of how things currently stand in political philosophy, and will provide an excellent introduction for students from any background. It gives a lucid and careful account of the central controversies and sites of disagreement in political theory over the last thirty years and rather than sacrifice theoretical sophistication and nuance for the sake of clarity and accessibility, it admirably achieves both′

Catriona McKinnon, University of York

This comprehensive textbook provides a complete and accessible introduction to the main theorists and issues in contemporary political theory today.

The text is organized into two major parts. The first, Contemporary Liberal Theory, outlines four distinct liberal theories of justice to introduce the work of Rawls, Nozick, Gauthier and Dworkin. The second, Alternative Traditions, introduces the theorists and themes associated with four key areas of contemporary debate: communitarianism, multiculturalism, deliberative democracy and feminism.

By giving students questions for consideration and using applied examples throughout, the text illustrates the practical relevance of contemporary theoretical debates to everyday issues in policy and politics.

The result is an essential overview of all the main traditions, issues and positions in political theory today that will serve as an invaluable resource for all students of contemporary political theory, political ideas and political philosophy.

Colin Farrelly is Assistant Professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of Waterloo, Canada. Introduction to Contemporary Political Theory will complement Contemporary Political Theory: A Reader edited by Colin Farrelly and also published by SAGE Publications.

`This text provides an up to date account of how things currently stand in political philosophy, and will provide an excellent introduction for students from any background. It gives a lucid and careful account of the central controversies and sites of disagreement in political theory over the last thirty years and rather than sacrifice theoretical sophistication and nuance for the sake of clarity and accessibility, it admirably achieves both′

Catriona McKinnon, University of York

This comprehensive textbook provides a complete and accessible introduction to the main theorists and issues in contemporary political theory today.

The text is organized into two major parts. The first, Contemporary Liberal Theory, outlines four distinct liberal theories of justice to introduce the work of Rawls, Nozick, Gauthier and Dworkin. The second, Alternative Traditions, introduces the theorists and themes associated with four key areas of contemporary debate: communitarianism, multiculturalism, deliberative democracy and feminism.

By giving students questions for consideration and using applied examples throughout, the text illustrates the practical relevance of contemporary theoretical debates to everyday issues in policy and politics.

The result is an essential overview of all the main traditions, issues and positions in political theory today that will serve as an invaluable resource for all students of contemporary political theory, political ideas and political philosophy.

Colin Farrelly is Assistant Professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of Waterloo, Canada. Introduction to Contemporary Political Theory will complement Contemporary Political Theory: A Reader edited by Colin Farrelly and also published by SAGE Publications.

PART ONE: CONTEMPORARY LIBERAL THEORY
Rawls and Justice as Fairness
Introduction
The Original Position
Equal Opportunity
Cohen′s Egalitarian Critique
The Principles that Apply to Individuals
Who are the Least Advantaged?
Beitz on Global Justice
A Political Conception of Justice
Nozick and the Entitlement Theory of Justice
Introduction
The State: Is it Necessary?
Wilt Chamberlain and the Entitlement Theory
The Principle of Initial Acquisition
The Principle of Rectification
Conclusion: Self Ownership and Private Property
Gauthier and Justice as Mutual Advantage
Introduction
Hobbes and the State of Nature
Gauthier and the Compliance Problem
What is a Rational Bargain?
The Limits of Justice as Mutual Advantage
Dworkin on Equality
Introduction
Dworkin on Equality of Resources
Welfare Reform and the Basic Income Proposal
Political Equality and Democracy
Against Luck Egalitarianism
PART TWO: ALTERNATIVE TRADITIONS
Communitarianism
Introduction
Deontological Liberalism and the Unencumbered Self
State Neutrality
Walzer on Complex Equality
Miller on Nationalism
Conclusion
Multiculturalism
Introduction: The Politics of Recognition
Kymlicka and the Rights of National Minorities
Polyethnic Rights
Barry Against Multiculturalism
Deliberative Democracy
Introduction: The Importance of Democracy
Moving Beyond the Aggregated Model of Democracy
How Substantive are the Principles of Democracy
Retaining the Critical Edge of Deliberative Democracy
Critically Assessing the Ideal of Deliberative Democracy
Feminism
Introduction
Liberal Feminism
The Public/Private Dichotomy
The Politics of Difference
Conclusion