This study offers a concise overview of European political thought since 1945. Despite its enormous diversity, Noël O'Sullivan argues that a unifying theme may be found in the need for European political thinkers to respond, either sympathetically or critically, to the following four major requirements posed by the postwar task of democratic reconstruction:- to restate the theory of the limited state in face of the continuing totalitarian challenge represented by postwar Soviet power- to provide social integration by developing a coherent ideal of social justice- to develop a more pluralist theory of the democratic state in response to the claims of feminism, postmodernism and cultural and ethnic minorities- to extend the ideal of civil association from a national into a supranational concept of European political identity in response to developments such as globalisation.The study also considers such issues as environmentalism and the emergence of the so-called 'risk society'. O'Sullivan concludes that, while an uneasy compromise has been achieved between the limited state, welfare provision and pluralism, the attempt to resituate this compromise within a supra-national European 'civil' identity may finally subvert the modern ideal of democratic and accountable government. Clear and accessible, this thematic survey is essential reading for all those interested in political thought in Europe from 1945 to the present.

European Political Thought since 1945 (European Culture and Society, 7)

History

O'Sullivan, Noël

Europe

Red Globe Press

This study offers a concise overview of European political thought since 1945. Despite its enormous diversity, Noël O'Sullivan argues that a unifying theme may be found in the need for European political thinkers to respond, either sympathetically or critically, to the following four major requirements posed by the postwar task of democratic reconstruction: - to restate the theory of the limited state in face of the continuing totalitarian challenge represented by postwar Soviet power - to provide social integration by developing a coherent ideal of social justice - to develop a more pluralist theory of the democratic state in response to the claims of feminism, postmodernism and cultural and ethnic minorities - to extend the ideal of civil association from a national into a supranational concept of European political identity in response to developments such as globalisation. The study also considers such issues as environmentalism and the emergence of the so-called 'risk society'. O'Sullivan concludes that, while an uneasy compromise has been achieved between the limited state, welfare provision and pluralism, the attempt to resituate this compromise within a supra-national European 'civil' identity may finally subvert the modern ideal of democratic and accountable government. Clear and accessible, this thematic survey is essential reading for all those interested in political thought in Europe from 1945 to the present.

European Political Thought since 1945 (European Culture and Society)

The Problem of Political Obligation (Routledge Library Editions: Political Thought and Political Philosophy)

Literature & Fiction

History & Criticism

Routledge

Terrorism, Ideology And Revolution: The Origins Of Modern Political Violence

Americas

Fascism (Everyman's Library)

Politics & Social Sciences

Politics & Government

J.M.Dent & Sons Ltd.

Fascism

Santayana (Thinkers of Our Time)

Philosophy

Claridge Pr

Santayana: Thinkers of Our Time

Claridge Press Ltd.

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by O'Sullivan, Noël. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by O'Sullivan, Noël