Theories of the State - The Politics of Liberal Democracy

Patrick Dunleavy, Brendan O'Leary

Macmillan

1987

386 páginas

12h 52m

ISBN-10: 0333386981

Theories of the State is a major new textbook for students in the social sciences. It provides a carefully structured introduction to the five broad schools of political, social and economic thought which dominate current discussions of the liberal-democratic state.

Each of the major approaches - Pluralist, New Right, Elitist, Marxist and Neo-pluralist -is considered in its own substantial chapter. In each case the authors provide a succinct summary of its intellectual origins, its methodology, and its key strengths and weaknesses. They look specifically at its models of political pressures and mobilization, of state organization and of political crisis. Each theory is presented in the same style and format, clearly and fairly, making comparison easy. As well as highlighting differences between approaches, the authors show in a strikingly original way the common theoretical problems and solutions which appear within each tradition. A concluding chapter shows how theories interlock and how they can be evaluated.

The book is the first genuinely comparative text in its field both in terms of the range of theories it covers and also in its use of examples from the United States, Western Europe and other liberal-democratic states.

Although its level and presentation make the book easily accessible for introductory-level students, the authors manage to combine a clear exposition of existing theories with the development of their own distinctive synthesis.