The Pluralist Theory of the State: Selected Writings of G.D.H. Cole, J.N. Figgis and H.J. LaskiPaul Q. Hirst English political pluralism is a challenging school of political thought, neglected in recent years but now enjoying a revival of interest. It is particularly relevant today because it offers a critique of centralized sovereign state power. The leading theorists of the pluralist state were G.D.H. Cole, J.N. Figgis and H.J. Laski, and this volume brings together their most important ideas, making accessible a crucial body of work on radical political theory. It includes their major writings, mostly out of print and difficult to obtain, and here gathered together in an anthology for the first time. Current in the first two decades of this century, English political pluralism offered a convincing critique of state sovereignty and proposed a decentralized and federated form of authority - pluralism - in which the affairs of society would be conducted by self-governing and independent associations. Paul Hirst's comprehensive introduction situates English political pluralism historically and gives a critical account of its main theoretical themes and the debate surrounding them. The book will be of interest to those who see radical reform as vital for the future health of democracy, to students of political theory and the history of political thought and also to students of jurisprudence and legal theory interested in the pluralist debate as it affects the concept of legal sovereignty. |
Contents
INTRODUCTION | 1 |
Part One THE SOCIAL THEORY | 49 |
Part Two CHURCHES IN THE MODERN STATE | 113 |
Part Three THE FOUNDATIONS OF SOVEREIGNTY AND OTHER ESSAYS | 131 |
Part Four STUDIES IN LAW AND POLITICS | 197 |
229 | |
237 | |
Other editions - View all
The Pluralist Theory of the State: Selected Writings of G.D.H. Cole, J.N ... Paul Q. Hirst No preview available - 1989 |
Common terms and phrases
action activities administrative associations and institutions authority become body central chapter character church citizens claim co-ordination coercion coherent Cole Cole’s company law complex conception concerned consent constitution courts decision definite democracy democratic deny doctrine economic effective elected English entitled essential existence fact federal Figgis formal forms of association functional association functional representation G.D.H. Cole Guild Socialism Guild Socialist Hobbes implies inclusive individual industrial influence interest international law Jean Bodin jurisprudence labour Labour Party largely Laski least legislation less liberty limited means mens rea merely modern monistic nature necessary object omnicompetent Parliament parliamentary parliamentary sovereignty perversion pluralist pluralistic theory political theory popular sovereignty possible principle problem purposes question recognize regard relation representative democracy result rules seek sense social organization Social Theory society sovereign power sovereignty sphere state’s structure things trade unions ultra vires unity unlimited vote whole