Republicanism: A Theory of Freedom and GovernmentThis is the first full-length presentation of a republican alternative to the liberal and communitarian theories that have dominated political philosophy in recent years. Professor Pettit's eloquent, compelling account opens with an examination of the traditional republican conception of freedom as non-domination, contrasting this with established negative and positive views of liberty. The first part traces the rise and decline of this conception, displays its many attractions, and makes a case for why it should still be regarded as a central political ideal. The second part looks at what the implementation of the ideal would imply for substantive policy-making, constitutional and democratic design, regulatory control and the relation between state and civil society. Prominent in this account is a novel concept of democracy, under which government is exposed to systematic contestation, and a vision of relations between state and society founded upon civility and trust. Professor Pettit's powerful and insightful new work offers not only a unified, theoretical overview of the many strands of republican ideas, it also provides a new and sophisticated perspective on studies in related fields including the history of ideas, jurisprudence, and criminology. |
Contents
| 1 | |
Before Negative and Positive Liberty | 17 |
Liberty as Nondomination | 51 |
Nondomination as a Political Ideal | 80 |
Liberty Equality Community | 110 |
Causes and Policies | 129 |
Constitutionalism | 171 |
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absence achieve agents arbitrary basis arbitrary interference arbitrary power argue argument associated assumption attractive Cambridge Cass Sunstein chapter citizens commonwealthman communitarian conception of liberty condition consequentialist constitutional constraints contestation contestatory corrupt decision-making democracy democratic depend deviant-centred domination effective ensure equal established example expected fact Federalist Papers freedom as non-domination freedom as non-interference goal going ideal of freedom important individual institutions intangible hand intensity of non-domination interests and ideas interfering involves legislative less liberals look Machiavelli Mary Astell maximizing means Montesquieu motivated negative negative liberty non-arbitrary norms options Oxford Paley particular parties people's Pettit political position positive liberty possible promote Quentin Skinner question reason regard regime relevant represent republic republican tradition Richard Price ring of Gyges sanctions screening sense social society someone sort strategy things tion undominated choice University Press virtue widespread civility