Introduction to Contemporary Political Theory
Political Theory
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 book gives an admirably lucid and careful account of the central controversies and sites of disagreement in political theory over the last thirty years; it does not sacrifice theoretical sophistication and nuance for the sake of clarity and accessibility, but rather achieves both. The book provides an up to date account of how things stand currently in political philosophy, and will provide an excellent introduction for students from any background. Reading this book will also greatly benefit anyone interested in how the most important contemporary political philosophers and theorists have approached the question of how we ought to live together.
Dr Catriona McKinnon, Lecturer in Political Philosophy, University of York.
Colin Farrelly has gathered together in one volume several of the key texts that have shaped recent developments in political
theory. The editor's introductions to each section make the readings themselves more accessible to students who are new
to the subject by locating them in a broader context. They also also provide helfpul outlines of some of the other major
theoretical contributions to the schools of thought that are covered. The structure of the book refelcts that of many courses
offering surveys of recent debates between liberals and their critics. It is an excellent teaching resource.
Shane O'Neill, Professor of Political Theory (and Head of the School of Politics and International Studies), Queen's University, Belfast.
Useful for information on the state. Could be used to introduced the modern theory to compare to classical
Though limited mostly with liberal thinkers, a good reading material for the beginners of political thought.
Really useful introductions. Very approachable for UG students.
This book, together with Farrely's Reader, is really, really wonderful stuff for any introductory course for 2nd year students or higher. If I could redesign our present course on Contemporary Political Theory, I'd almost certainly adopt this text.
