Republicanism: A Theory of Freedom and Government / Edition 1

by Philip Pettit

Overview

This is the first full-length presentation of a republican alternative to the liberal and communitarian theories that have dominated political philosophy in recent years. The latest addition to the acclaimed Oxford Political Theory series, Pettit's eloquent and compelling account opens with an examination of the traditional republican conception of freedom as non-domination, contrasting this with established negative and positive views of liberty.

The first part of the book traces the rise and decline of this conception, displays its many attractions, and makes a case for why it should still be regarded as a central political ideal. The second part of the book looks at what the implementation of the ideal would require with regard to substantive policy-making, constitutional and democratic design, regulatory control and the relation between state and civil society. Prominent in this account is a novel concept of democracy, under which government is exposed to systematic contestation, and a vision of state-societal relations founded upon civility and trust.

Pettit's powerful and insightful new work offers not only a unified, theoretical overview of the many strands of republican ideas, but also a new and sophisticated perspective on studies in related fields including the history of ideas, jurisprudence, and criminology.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780198296423
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	01/27/2000
Series:	Oxford Political Theory
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	352
Product dimensions:	9.20(w) x 6.21(h) x 0.83(d)
Lexile:	1370L (what's this?)

Table of Contents

PART 1. REPUBLICANISM FREEDOMBefore Negative and Positive LibertyLiberty as Non-dominationNon-domination as a Political IdealLiberty, Equality, CommunityPART II. REPUBLICAN GOVERNMENTRepublican Aims: Causes and PoliciesRepublican Forms: Constitutionalism and DemocracyChecking the RepublicCivilising the RepublicRepublicanism: A Propositional SummaryRepublicanism: Once More with Hindsight

Editorial Reviews

"Pettit offers a powerful explication and vindication of republicanism as a viable political philosophy for our times....The book is compelling because of Pettit's clarity and originality, as well as his choice of nondomination as the core of republicanism....Highly recommended for upper-division undergraduates as well as more advanced readers."—Choice

From the Publisher