'The book's mix of approaches is refreshing ... its erudition impressive.' - The Journal of Politics

• Part 1 Introduction: absolutism and pluralism; the methodological relevance of history; distinctive features of the present analysis; indivudual and collective sovereignty in Bodin and Hobbes; federalism and pluralism; the legacy of order. Part 2 Absolutist perspectives: history - Italy and Machiavelli; history, France and Bodin; history, England and Hobbes. Part 3 Twilight of the pluralist state - Jean Bodin: Bodinian overview; the family; private corporate bodies; the family and private corporate bodies; public corporations - iuges et magistrats; the sovereign - exposition; the sovereign - analysis. Part 4 Dawn of the absolutist state - Thomas Hobbes: Hobbesian overview - facts and norms; Hobbesian overview - family and state; the individual; mother and infant; parent and child; corporate structure; state structure. Part 5 Conclusion: the ideology of order. Appendixes: Bodin on female rule; the justice/order problem in the Bodininan concept of law; the sovereign and legislator in Bodin; Bodinian absolutism from the Methodus to the Republique; comments on the source of political obligation in Hobbes.

'The book's mix of approaches is refreshing ... its erudition impressive.' - The Journal of Politics

• Part 1 Introduction: absolutism and pluralism; the methodological relevance of history; distinctive features of the present analysis; indivudual and collective sovereignty in Bodin and Hobbes; federalism and pluralism; the legacy of order. Part 2 Absolutist perspectives: history - Italy and Machiavelli; history, France and Bodin; history, England and Hobbes. Part 3 Twilight of the pluralist state - Jean Bodin: Bodinian overview; the family; private corporate bodies; the family and private corporate bodies; public corporations - iuges et magistrats; the sovereign - exposition; the sovereign - analysis. Part 4 Dawn of the absolutist state - Thomas Hobbes: Hobbesian overview - facts and norms; Hobbesian overview - family and state; the individual; mother and infant; parent and child; corporate structure; state structure. Part 5 Conclusion: the ideology of order. Appendixes: Bodin on female rule; the justice/order problem in the Bodininan concept of law; the sovereign and legislator in Bodin; Bodinian absolutism from the Methodus to the Republique; comments on the source of political obligation in Hobbes.

'The book's mix of approaches is refreshing ... its erudition impressive.' - The Journal of Politics

• Part 1 Introduction: absolutism and pluralism; the methodological relevance of history; distinctive features of the present analysis; indivudual and collective sovereignty in Bodin and Hobbes; federalism and pluralism; the legacy of order. Part 2 Absolutist perspectives: history - Italy and Machiavelli; history, France and Bodin; history, England and Hobbes. Part 3 Twilight of the pluralist state - Jean Bodin: Bodinian overview; the family; private corporate bodies; the family and private corporate bodies; public corporations - iuges et magistrats; the sovereign - exposition; the sovereign - analysis. Part 4 Dawn of the absolutist state - Thomas Hobbes: Hobbesian overview - facts and norms; Hobbesian overview - family and state; the individual; mother and infant; parent and child; corporate structure; state structure. Part 5 Conclusion: the ideology of order. Appendixes: Bodin on female rule; the justice/order problem in the Bodininan concept of law; the sovereign and legislator in Bodin; Bodinian absolutism from the Methodus to the Republique; comments on the source of political obligation in Hobbes.