The PeopleThis groundbreaking study sets out to clarify one of the most influential but least studied of all political concepts. Despite continual talk of popular sovereignty, the idea of the people has been neglected by political theorists who have been deterred by its vagueness. Margaret Canovan argues that it deserves serious analysis, and that it's many ambiguities point to unresolved political issues.
The book begins by charting the conflicting meanings of the people, especially in Anglo-American usage, and traces the concept's development from the ancient populus Romanus to the present day.
The book's main purpose is, however, to analyse the political issues signalled by the people's ambiguities. In the remaining chapters, Margaret Canovan considers their theoretical and practical aspects:
This original and accessible study sheds a fresh light on debates about popular sovereignty, and will be an important resource for students and scholars of political theory. |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
abstract ambiguities American Revolution Anglophone appear argue body boundaries Britain Burgh Canovan citizens claim classical republican collective common conception constitutional contemporary continuing corporate crucial deliberative deliberative democracy demo democratic politics despite direct democracy election elite England English ethnic Europe European Union exclusive exercise existence fiction foundation myth French Revolution grass roots Habermas human ical individuals institutions issues John Locke king legacy legitimacy legitimate lex regia liberal democracy Locke ment Mény and Surel metaphor modern democracy monarchy Morgan mythic nationhood natural nineteenth century Parliament particular Party peoplehood Pim Fortuyn political community politicians popular authority popular government popular mobilization popular sovereignty populism populist movements practical principle problem question radical referendum representatives Republic reserve Roman Republic Rousseau saw in chapter seems self-determination sense simply social social contract solidarity sover sovereign specific story struggles theory tion tradition ultimate source universal voting whole Yack