Politics of Utopia

The Authors: Barbara Goodwin is Professor of Politics at the University of East Anglia, Norwich. Her publications include Social Science and Utopia (1978), Ethics at Work (2000), Justice by Lottery (2005) and Using Political Ideas (2007); she also edited a collection of essays, The Philosophy of Utopia (2001).Keith Taylor, who died in 2006, taught at Coventry Polytechnic and Westminster University. His books include the translation of writings by the early French socialist Saint-Simon, Henri Saint-Simon, Selected Writings on Science, Industry and Social Organisation (1975), and The Political Ideas of the Utopian Socialists (1981).

«When originally published ‘The Politics of Utopia’ was the first work to look seriously at the importance of utopia for political theory and practice. Over twenty-five years later, it remains a truly original work that, despite important additional work by the authors and others, is still essential reading for anyone interested in either utopia or politics.» (Lyman Tower Sargent, Professor Emeritus of Political Science, University of Missouri – St. Louis; author of ‘British and American Utopian Literature, 1516-1985’)«A well-written, well-integrated and important contribution to the literature on utopias which students of political theory will also find superior to existing accounts.» (Gregory Claeys, Professor of the History of Political Thought, Royal Holloway, University of London; editor of ‘Modern British Utopias. c. 1700-1850’)«A pioneering study of ‘utopian political theory and practice’ (…). It contains valuable information and original insight, and some of the chapters stand out as self-contained essays of high scholarly quality (…). Goodwin and Taylor are highly skilled social scientists who have in the past done excellent work on aspects of utopian thought and history.» (Merritt Abrash, Professor Emeritus of Cultural Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, author of ‘Mindful of Utopia’)

• Contents: Utopia and Political Theory: Taking Utopianism Seriously - Taxonomy and Anatomy - Ideology, Science or Symbol? - Utopia’s Enemies – Utopia and Political Practice: The Social Origins of the Utopian Impulse - Movements for Utopia - Utopia Writ Small: Communitarianism and its Legacy – In Defence of Utopia: Is Utopia Necessary? - The Utopian Impulse in Twentieth Century Politics.