Contemporary Political Thought

His admirable introduction to this collection [offers] an account of the concerns of political theory and of its potential role in actual political life, that is both accessible to those new to the field and seeking orientation in a complex, fragmented subject, and reflexively aware of its role in the making and remaking of that subject! The collection has the feel not only of 'A Reader and Guide' - doing exactly what it says on the tin, so to speak - but also of an intervention in, and engagement with, the field it seeks to delineate. And it is all the more interesting and exciting for that... Any tutor charged with the task of convincing a group of sceptical students as to why they need to be studying political theory could do a lot worse than recommend they read Finlayson's 'General Introduction' to the book! The whole package is designed not merely as an overview of the field, but also as a useful teaching-aid and resource - no bad thing given the escalating costs of books and the relative impoverishment of students. The individual essays by contributors vary in style and approach! All are accessible and all are worth reading, borth for students and academics alike! As a reader and a guide the book succeeeds. As an incitement to think clearly and critically about politics - and as an example of such thinking - it succeeds admirably. This is an ambitious text that will be very useful in the classroom because of its commitment to present a very broad range of contemporary political thought in both a historical and an intellectual context. -- Professor Lisa Disch, University of Minnesota Well organised, including all the topics that a course on contemporary political thought should cover, and several other important topics that most texts omit. -- Professor Mark Graber, University of Maryland There is a real need for a book of this kind. I know of no other text which covers this range of material and certainly not one which includes several readings. Suitable for both undergraduate and masters level introductory courses in contemporary political theory and I would certainly recommend it as essential reading for such courses. -- Dr Susan Stephenson, University of Southampton His admirable introduction to this collection [offers] an account of the concerns of political theory and of its potential role in actual political life, that is both accessible to those new to the field and seeking orientation in a complex, fragmented subject, and reflexively aware of its role in the making and remaking of that subject! The collection has the feel not only of 'A Reader and Guide' - doing exactly what it says on the tin, so to speak - but also of an intervention in, and engagement with, the field it seeks to delineate. And it is all the more interesting and exciting for that... Any tutor charged with the task of convincing a group of sceptical students as to why they need to be studying political theory could do a lot worse than recommend they read Finlayson's 'General Introduction' to the book! The whole package is designed not merely as an overview of the field, but also as a useful teaching-aid and resource - no bad thing given the escalating costs of books and the relative impoverishment of students. The individual essays by contributors vary in style and approach! All are accessible and all are worth reading, borth for students and academics alike! As a reader and a guide the book succeeeds. As an incitement to think clearly and critically about politics - and as an example of such thinking - it succeeds admirably. This is an ambitious text that will be very useful in the classroom because of its commitment to present a very broad range of contemporary political thought in both a historical and an intellectual context. Well organised, including all the topics that a course on contemporary political thought should cover, and several other important topics that most texts omit. There is a real need for a book of this kind. I know of no other text which covers this range of material and certainly not one which includes several readings. Suitable for both undergraduate and masters level introductory courses in contemporary political theory and I would certainly recommend it as essential reading for such courses.