Bobbio's wide-ranging argument is focused on four themes: the
distinction between the public and the private; the concept of
civil society; differing conceptions of the state and differing
ways of understanding the legitimacy of state power; and the
relation between democracy and dictatorship. Bobbio's discussion
draws on a wealth of theoretical and historical material, from
Plato, Aristotle, Hobbes and Locke to Marx, Weber, Habermas and
Foucault. By analysing the development of different languages of
politics in relation to changing social and historical contexts,
Bobbio deepens our understanding of the concepts we use to describe
and evaluate modern political systems.
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"This book constitutes a marvellous "Introduction" to the study of politics. A book which does not leave the reader as it found him - it teaches him how to think." La Stampa
"[Bobbio shows] clarity and skill in making distinctions ... and shining precision in defining terms and ideas." Corsera
Preface.
Part I: The great dichotomy: public/private:.
Corresponding dichotomies.
The evaluative use of the great dichotomy.
The second meeting of the dichotomy.
Part II: Civil Society:.
The various meanings.
The Marxian interpretation.
The Hegelian system.
The natural law tradition.
Civil society as civilised society.
The current debate.
Part III: State, Power and Government:.
Towards the study of the state.
The name and the thing.
The state and power.
The foundation of power.
State and law.
The forms of government.
Forms of state.
The end of the state.
Part IV: Democracy and Dictatorship:.
Democracy in the theory of governmental forms.
The descriptive use.
The evaluative use.
The historical use.
Modern democracy.
Representative democracy and direct democracy.
Political democracy and social democracy.
Formal democracy and substantive democracy.
Ancient dictatorship.
Modern dictatorship.
Revolutionary dictatorship.
Bibliography.
Index.
