History of Political Thought: A Very Short Introduction

The study of political thought has been influenced by history, with different periods using the past differently. This Very Short Introduction explores the core concerns and questions in the field, examining the approaches of key theorists such as Reinhart Koselleck, Strauss, Michel Foucault, and the Cambridge School. It assesses the current relationship between political history, theory, and action and its relevance for current politics.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 160 pages
Publication date: 25 November 2021
Publisher: Oxford University Press

Due to the ability to compare and contrast historical events with the present, thinking about politics has tended to be historical in nature. Different periods in politics have used the past in different ways. Political thought can be said to have been directly influenced by the study of history at times, while at other times, particularly in our own time, the relationship is more indirect. This Very Short Introduction delves into the central issues and questions within the field of the history of political thought. Richard Whatmore views the history of political thought as a subfield of political philosophy/political science and analyzes the approaches of key theorists such as Reinhart Koselleck, Strauss, Michel Foucault, and the so-called Cambridge School of Quentin Skinner and John Pocock. Whatmore assesses the current relationship between political history, theory, and action and concludes with an analysis of its relevance to current politics.

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Weight: 128g
Dimension: 174 x 113 x 12 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780198853725