Ebook: Political Concepts

Eschewing the spirit of disillusionment often encountered in contemporary political theory, Bellamy (Univ. of Essex) and Andrew Mason (Univ. of Southhampton) have edited an anthology that presents "a broad range of the main concepts employed in contemporary debates among both political theorists and ordinary citizens." This laudable book consists of seventeen chapters on "political concepts" such as liberty, rights, and social justice, as well as legitimacy and welfare, and includes at least five chapters related to present-day controversies such as multiculturalism and green political theory. All essays are well-researched, accessible to a wide readership, and generally devoid of an overly technical vocabulary. The brevity of the chapters is an attribute of the volume that deserves special note. The chapters on liberty, legitimacy, and the rule of law also merit praise. Other chapters lack the philosophical rigor and precision of argument found in the rest of the book, as evinced in the chapter on gender. In returning to the importance of defining political concepts to encourage political understanding and ultimately participation, the volume makes a fine contribution.