Oxford political theory

Pettit presents a republican alternative to the liberal and communitarian theories that have dominated political philosophy in recent years, and looks at the implications of this theory for the relation between state and civil society.

In this book David Miller defends the principle of nationality. He argues that national identities are valid sources of personal identity; that we are justified in recognizing special obligations to our co-nationals; that nations have good grounds for wanting to be politically self-determining; but that recognizing the claims of nationality does not entail suppressing other sources of personal identity, such as ethnicity. Finally, he considers the claim that national identities are dissolving in the late twentieth century.

"This book presents a new analysis of disadvantage, and puts forward proposals to help governments improve the lives of the least advantaged in their societies, thereby moving in the direction of equality. The analysis of the book will interest political philosophers, social policy theorists, and practitioners involved in the design and delivery of actual social policy."--BOOK JACKET.