Using Political Ideas is a unique blend of political philosophy, political theory and history of political thought. It combines a critique of the major ideologies of recent and contemporary society with an analysis of the ideas that form the very stuff of political debate. By exposing the interplay between ideas and ideologies, it shows why political opponents often speak at cross-purposes and why rational agreement is so hard to achieve in politics.
The sixth edition of this well respected and widely known text will be welcomed by those interested in questions such as:
Is equality more important than personal freedom?
Does the majority have the right to dictate to the minority in multicultural society?
Is nationalism a progressive force in the world?
Politics does not stand still, there are always new controversies and ideological conflicts and the climate of discussion changes. The 6th edition of this best-selling book is fully updated and includes a new chapter on authoritarian ideologies to reflect the growing extreme right-wing politics in parts of Europe. This edition also provides a variety of new learning features, a comprehensive glossary, detailed lists of further reading and a list of questions for discussion.
About the Author xiii
Preface to the Sixth Edition xv
PART I INTRODUCTION
Chapter 1 What is Political Theory? 3
Chapter 2 Ideology 19
Marx on Ideology 20
'Ideology' Since Marx 23
Conceptual Problems 29
PART II IDEOLOGIES
Chapter 3 Liberalism 39
The Ingredients of Liberalism 41
The Liberal Model: Perpetual Motion? 51
Why Does the Liberal Value the Individual so Highly? 55
Do I Know My Own Interests? 58
Liberals and Welfare States 61
Liberalism Today 65
Chapter 4 Marxism 73
Problems in Reading Marx 74
The Vocabulary of the Dialectic 76
Marx's Economics 79
The Social Consequences 82
History and Revolution 84
Communist Society 89
Criticizing Marx 91
The Evolution of Marxism 96
Revisionism and Recantation 102
Chapter 5 Socialism 107
The Nucleus of Socialism 108
The Changing Face of Socialism 117
Objections to Socialism 124
The Contradictions of Social Democracy 127
Chapter 6 Anarchism 133
The Critique of Authority 135
The Anarchist Order 138
The Moral Basis of Anarchist Society 138
Freedom within Society 141
Order without Dependence 143
Anarchist Individualism 146
Anarchist Values 148
Contemporary Anarchism 149
Objections to Anarchist Theory 151
The Ethics of Violence 152
Chapter 7 Conservatism 161
Against Change 162
The Virtues of Tradition 166
Human Imperfection and Inequality 168
Conservative Politics 171
The Conservative Mentality 174
Conservatism Today 177
Ideology or Intuition? 179
Chapter 8 Authoritarian Ideologies: 183
Contrasting Dystopias 185
The Term 'Totalitarianism' 188
The 'Phenomenological' Approach 189
The 'Essentialist' Analysis 191
Fascism as Totalitarianism 198
Fascism as Ideology 199
The Psychological Roots of Totalitarianism 203
Fundamentalist Authoritarianism 205
Totalitarianism Reconsidered 209
Chapter 9 Feminism 217
The Demonization of Women, and of Feminism 218
Feminists and Human Nature 220
Gendered Society 223
Patriarchal Society 225
Women and Capitalism 228
Oppression 232
Feminist Strategies 239
Feminism as Ideology 247
Chapter 10 Green Ideologies 253
Shades of Green 255
Economic Arguments 257
Anti-Pollution Arguments 262
Moral Arguments 264
Green Utopias 267
Problematic Questions 271
Green Successes 277
Chapter 11 Beyond Ideology: Nationalism 281
What is a Nation? 283
The Incoherence of Nationalism 285
The Origins of Nationalism 289
Is Nationalism an Ideology? 291
Nationalism, Liberalism and Democracy 294
Rights of Secession 295
Objections to Nationalism 298
PART III IDEAS
Chapter 12 Democracy 305
The Classical Ideal 306
Elitists and Pluralists 311
'Radical' Democracy 315
Democracy's Paradox 320
The Problem of Minorities 322
Democracy and Liberalism 325
Democracy and Truth 328
The Will of the People 331
New Forms of Democracy 333
Chapter 13 Power, Authority and the State 341
What is Power? 342
What Creates Authority? 346
Power and Authority 350
The State Leviathan 351
Chapter 14 Freedom and Rights 361
The Meaning of Freedom 362
Varieties of Freedom 364
Freedom and Illusion 368
The 'Rights of Man' 371
Human Rights 373
Special Rights for Women? 377
Rights and Liberty 380
The Climate of Tolerance 382
Chapter 15 Citizenship, Obligation and Protest 389
Contractual Obligation 391
The Just Government 396
Self-Interest and Gratitude 398
Why Do I Obey the Law? 400
The Right to Protest 402
The Scope of Protest 406
The Right of Revolution 410
Chapter 16 Social Justice and Equality 415
The Criteria for Justice 417
Liberal, Socialist and 'Natural' Justice 420
Retributive Justice 428
What is Justice? 430
Nations and Generations 432
Justice and Equality 435
Chapter 17 New Political Dimensions 443
Religion and Politics 444
Multiculturalism, Diversity and Identity Politics 447
Globalization and Global Terrorism 450
Glossary 455
Index 469
