The Political Theory Reader

The Political Theory Reader is a collection of more than 80 important readings that address the contested philosophical assumptions and competing principles of politics. Included are key selections by canonical figures in the history of political thought, the founders of the major ideological perspectives of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, and leading contemporary political theorists and philosophers. After opening chapters on the nature of political theory and selections introducing the major ideologies of the past 200 years, the readings are then arranged thematically, providing alternative perspectives on 11 great issues of politics, ranging from conceptions of human nature and the nature of political knowledge to questions of authority, citizenship, and justice. This structure not only helps to illustrate the diversity and evolution of political thinking, but also encourages the comparative evaluation of competing viewpoints. Aimed at those coming new to the study of political theory, the Reader offers a carefully organized selection of unparalleled breadth, allowing students to see how different ideological voices express their beliefs about the great issues of politics and how political theory has evolved in its discussion of these issues.