Alan Finlayson Knihy

Contemporary Political Thought is a foundation textbook in political thought. It brings together readings by leading exponents of contemporary political theory with lucid, jargon-free introductions, and is the first book in the area to combine these pedagogical elements.The book is divided into 12 sections: the twentieth to the twenty-first centuries, interpreting political thought now and then, liberalisms, conservatisms, marxisms, communitarianism, feminism, ecologism and environmentalism, post-structuralism and post-modernism, multi-culturalism, political thought beyond the Western tradition, and democratic theory for a new century.Each section contains several influential texts that provide discussion of various key theoretical positions. The introductions elucidate some of the main currents within the area of thought, and the areas of most significant tension, give cross-references to other theories, and contextualize the readings that follow. An indispensable aid for students and professors alike, Contemporary Political Thought is the perfect introduction to theoretical approaches to politics.

"This book tries to make sense of New Labour by interpreting its ideas and practices as symptoms of the times in which we live. It is an in-depth study, interpreting a wide range of material, including party political broadcasts and other election material, Tony Blair's speeches, and internal policy discussion. Finlayson disentangles and analyses the different elements of New Labour's political philosophy, which he argues is in large part a reflection of the culture and politics of contemporary capitalism. As such the party inevitably finds itself managing a status quo rather than driving genuine change."--BOOK JACKET