Introduction to Political Theory

Paul Graham teaches political theory at the University of Buckingham, UK. John Hoffman is Emeritus Professor of Political Theory at the University of Leicester, UK.

"This fourth edition is an exceptionally well written introduction to political theory, with the focus on principal concepts and excellent case studies. This book is a marvelous contribution to the field of Political Science. Yet above all, the book offers an outstanding basis of knowledge and motivation for university students learning about political theory." Katarzyna Stokłosa, University of Southern Denmark, Denmark"Hoffman and Graham’s textbook is a success at many levels. It is admirably comprehensive, is not afraid of courting controversy (particularly in its refreshing scepticism about the state) and demonstrates how central normative theory is to a study of politics. Above all, perhaps, it manages, with the help of very useful case studies, to pull off the difficult task of making complex ideas eminently accessible. I highly recommend the book as an ideal introduction to the study of political theory."Robert Garner, University of Leicester, UK

• Introduction Part 1: Coercion, Legitimacy, and Collective Choice 1. The State 2. Democracy 3. Punishment 4. Political Obligation and Conscientious Objection Part 2: Freedom, Equality, and Justice 5. Equality 6. Freedom of Action 7. Freedom of Speech 8. Distributive Justice Part 3: Classical Ideologies 9. Liberalism 10. Conservatism 11. Socialism and Marxism 12. Anarchism 13. Nationalism 14. Fascism and the Radical Right Part 4: Contemporary Ideologies 15. Feminism 16. Multiculturalism 17. Ecologism Part 5: Global Political Theory 18. Human Rights 19. Global Justice 20. Migration