Encyclopedia of Political Theory

by Mark Bevir (Editor)

Overview

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How do we arrange our collective affairs? Why do we live together in the ways we do? How ought we to live together? All humans think about the world they live in, its history and future, and the ideals by which they want to live in relation to others. How we think today decisively influences the world of tomorrow. This encyclopedia attempts to bring greater clarity and understanding to political debate.

 

Drawing together a team of international scholars, the Encyclopedia of Political Theory examines the ideas of the major political theorists from before Plato to our own times; the main schools of political thought; the concepts and issues that have captured the imagination and attention of political theorists; and some of the main institutions and practices inspired by political thought. With more than 450 entries, these three volumes provide a quick, one-stop source to key topics in the field.

 

Key Features

• Examines the global landscape of all the key theories and the theorists behind them
• Includes specific lists of entries that deal with constitutional thought and democratic thought
• Refers to distinctive norms and features of various governments, legal systems, and societies
• Devotes large parts to the history of ideas about government, ethics, and society
• Provides a chronology of political theory to help readers see how a given theorist, school, or issue fits into the bigger historical picture

 

Key Themes

• Ancient Thought
• Applied Ethics
• Biographies
• Comparative Theory
• Constitutional Thought
• Critical Theory
• Democratic Thought
• Early Modern Thought
• International Theory
• Justice
• Liberal Theory
• Medieval Thought
• Modern Theory
• Power and Authority
• Religious Thought
• Self and Community

 

This work is designed to serve as a reference source for anyone interested in the roots of contemporary political theory. It will be a welcome addition to any academic or public library.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781506332727
Publisher:	SAGE Publications
Publication date:	03/18/2010
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	1584
File size:	4 MB

About the Author

Professor Mark Bevir is a member of the Department of Political Science at University of California, Berkeley. He was born in London and educated at the University of Exeter, U.K., where he got a BA (1st Class), and the University of Oxford, UK where he was awarded a DPhil. Before moving to Berkeley, he worked at the University of Madras, India, and University of Newcastle, UK. He has held visiting positions in Australia, Finland, France, U.K., and the U.S. Currently he is co-convener of the Interpretive Political Science specialist group of the Political Studies Association and President of the Society for the Philosophy of History.

Table of Contents

Common Law - Paul Carrese

Editorial Reviews

".... Coverage of the field is broad and deep, with 475 signed entries written by more than 350 academics from institutions worldwide.... Entries range from less than a page in length (Essentialism, Subaltern) to eight-plus pages (Confucianism, Libertarianism) and include cross-references to related essays as well as suggestions for further reading.... The Encyclopedia of Political Theory is recommended for academic libraries and large public libraries."

Jan Lewis

"Bevir ... has done a super job editing this new encyclopedia, which thoroughly addresses the key themes found in contemporary political theory and its historical antecedents.... This set evidences a sense of balance and proportionality among its articles that can be hard to achieve.... Summing Up: Highly recommended. *** Lower-level undergraduates and above, general readers. "-CHOICE

J.P. Renaud

In this three-volume set, Bevir (Univ. of California, Berkeley) has assembled a useful tool for anyone researching political philosophy. The 470-plus articles are arranged in straight alphabetical order by main subject, with a user's guide displaying subject headings at the beginning of Volume 1. See also references to related topics are included in numerous articles. Assembled from a wide variety of academic institutions, some 369 authors discuss an assortment of political subjects ranging from abortion to Wycliffism, including religious and secular political theories, major political ideologies, leaders of political movements, historical political movements, and current political philosophy. Biographical articles about more than 100 political philosophers do a thorough job of exploring their political beliefs and writings. Some of the choices will be better known than others, and some may prove unexpected and interesting (e.g., Abraham Lincoln). While those searching for bias can likely identify it anywhere, entries here strive for political neutrality. Article length varies from half a page to over ten pages, with some far more compelling than others—to be expected with such a diverse collection of contributors and subjects. Political science bibliographers may also be familiar with Bevir's previous projects, e.g., Histories of Postmodernism (2007) and Governance Stories (2006). BOTTOM LINE While the general public might find it useful for researching a political ideology or theory, college students majoring in political science will probably find it most useful. Libraries that own the Encyclopedia of Political Thought edited by Garrett Ward Sheldon (Facts On File 2001) might consider a newer book. Purchase if your budget permits.—James Langan, Univ. of Pittsburgh Lib.

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