States and Citizens: History, Theory, Prospects

by Quentin Skinner, Bo Stråth

Overview

Coverage of the Western European experience is wide-ranging in this survey of perceptions of the state, its history, and prospects in the contemporary world. The greatest post-colonial democratic state, India, is also discussed as an important comparative example. Contributions by a distinguished pan-European team of authors ensure this study's value to students and teachers of the history of ideas, political theory and European studies.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521539265
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	10/16/2003
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	244
Product dimensions:	5.98(w) x 9.02(h) x 0.51(d)

About the Author

Quentin Skinner is Regius Professor of Modern History at the University of Cambridge, and one of the leading historians in the world today.

Bo Stråth is Professor of Contemporary History at the European University Institute, Florence.

Table of Contents

Introduction; Part I. States and Citizens: Setting the Scene: 1. States and the freedom of citizens Quentin Skinner; 2. The concept of the state: the sovereignty of a fiction David Runciman; 3. Citizens and the state: retrospect and prospect Gianfranco Poggi; Part II. The Medieval Background: 4. Freedom, law and the Medieval state Magnus Ryan; 5. States, cities and citizens in the later Middle Ages Almut Høfert; Part III. Early-modern Developments: 6. The state and its rivals in early-modern Europe Martin van Gelderen; 7. The development of the idea of citizens' rights Annabel Brett; Part IV. Citizens, States and Modernity: 8. Enlightenment's differences, today's identities Judith Vega; 9. Citizen and state under the French Revolution Lucian Jaume; 10. A state of contradictions: political power in modern India Sudipta Kaviraj; Part V. After the Modern State: 11. The state and its critics: is there a post-modern challenge? Bo Stråth; 12. Citizenship and equality of the sexes: the French model in question Michele Riot Sarcey; 13. States, citizens and the environment Andy Dobson.

Editorial Reviews

'… provides a remarkably unified perspective on the state …'. Contemporary Political Theory

From the Publisher