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Ideas in Action

Political Tradition in the Twentieth Century

  • Textbook
Ideas in Action cover

Ideas in Action

Political Tradition in the Twentieth Century

  • Textbook
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Description

Imagine a world in which means and ends, theory and practice, ideals, values, and interests, are torturously disassociated and yet manifestly linked. That is the world of the 20th century as Stephen Eric Bronner vividly portrays it in his important new work.

Now imagine a world in which new traditions mix with the old, creativity blends with commitment, and values from the past combine with bold visions of the future. Creating this new fusion, says Professor Bronner, is the challenge for the 21st century and it inspires Ideas in Action.

Contemporary political theory has become alienated from politics. It often neither discusses concrete political events nor touches the world of political action. That is an intellectual luxury the academy of the 21st century can ill-afford, and Ideas in Action offers an accessible way out of the box into which the canon of political theory and philosophy has been stuffed.

With elegance and power, Bronner surveys 20th century political traditions. In the process, he places theories and thinkers in their social, historical, and political contexts. His sweeping presentation is organized into four imaginatively articulated phases that signal the direction of political thinking in the twentieth century.

Offering distinctive interpretations and criticisms, presenting a new internationalist perspective, Bronner imbues the text with original voices and primary sources from the very canon he is reconfiguring. Careful notes of citation and explanation provide a pedagogical subtext that serves as a running bibliographic essay. All this and more makes the perfect core or supplemental text for courses not only in political science, but philosophy, sociology, history, and cultural studies as well.

Ideas in Actionis a book for thinking people seeking to understand the past and shape the next millennium in terms of a new planetary outlook and a cosmopolitan sensibility.

Students will enjoy reading the text, flock to the primary sources, and enga

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Prologue: Tradition, Interpretation, Commitment
Part 2 Envisioning Democracy
Chapter 3 The Dilemmas of Democratic Theory
Chapter 4 The Liberal Heritage: Individualism, Dialogue, and Universalism
Chapter 5 The Communitarian Idea: Solidarity, Pragmatism, and Particularism
Chapter 6 The Conservative Disposition: Custom, Stability, and Markets
Chapter 7 The Anarchist Impulse: Localism, Participation, and Autonomy
Part 8 Changing the World
Chapter 9 The Masses in Motion
Chapter 10 Socialism: Marxism, Republicanism, and Reformism
Chapter 11 Fascism: Irrationalism, Reaction, and Apocalypse
Chapter 12 Communism: Revolution, Dictatorship, and Totalitarianism
Part 13 Reclaiming Subjectivity
Chapter 14 The Liberation of Subjectivity
Chapter 15 Existential Battles: Rebellion, Engagement, Authenticity
Chapter 16 Critical Theory: Dialectics, Consciousness, Negativity
Chapter 17 Postmodernism and Poststructuralism: Deconstructions, Desire, Difference
Chapter 18 The Radical Imagination: Aesthetics, Spontaneity, Utopia
Part 19 Empowering the Other
Chapter 20 The Logic of the New Social Movements
Chapter 21 Race: Reflections on the African-American Heritage
Chapter 22 Sex: Gendered Experiences
Chapter 23 Nature: Ecological Visions
Chapter 24 The Forgotten: Anti-Imperialism, Nationalism, and Postcolonialism
Chapter 25 Epilogue: Ethical Choices, Progressive Politics, and the Challenges of Planetary Life
Chapter 26 Index
Chapter 27 About the Author

Product details

Published Jan 01 2000
Format Ebook (Epub & Mobi)
Edition 1st
Extent 368
ISBN 9780585177755
Imprint Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing

About the contributors

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