Reflections on political theory : a voice of reason from the past / Neal Wood.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Wood, Neal.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Political science--History.

Political science.

History.

Political science--Philosophy.

Physical Description:

x, 178 pages ; 22 cm

Place of Publication:

Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire ; New York : Palgrave, 2002.

Summary:

In this thought-provoking study, Neal Wood challenges the conception of political theory as a lofty discipline remote from the world of real politics. Drawing on the examples of thinkers from Plato to those of the 19th Century, he attempts to define political theory by examining the nature of the state and politics, by identifying the major characteristics that their theories share and by analyzing the conditions that have favored their creation.

Contents:

Part I Defining Political Theory 15

2 State and Politics 17

2.1 Nature of the state 17

2.2 Meaning of politics 25

2.3 Symbolic forms and politics 32

3 Character of Political Theory 39

3.1 Political theorist as 'a reformer of politicks' 41

3.2 The generative dimension 47

3.3 The prescriptive dimension 56

3.4 The persuasive dimension 61

4 Conditions Favouring Political Theory 71

4.1 Political conflict and social turmoil 73

4.2 Freedom of expression 76

4.3 Intellectual quality and education 78

4.4 Optimism about the future 84

Part II Studying Political Theory 89

5 Philosophical Mode of Analysis 91

5.1 The ivory tower syndrome 92

5.2 The philosophical idealism of the Cambridge School 101

5.3 Philosophy without history or philosophy and history? 109

6 Historical Mode of Analysis 115

6.1 Ideational and material realms 117

6.2 Questions of historicism and relativism 122

6.3 Role of ideology 126

7 Marxism and the Historical Mode of Analysis 133

7.1 Salience of the economic 135

7.2 History as dynamic process 138

7.3 Class structure and conflict 146

7.4 Conception of the state 151

8 Afterword: Toward the Future 155.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

0333968808

OCLC:

47863286