ABSTRACT

This book examines the basic tenets of nation, nationalism and citizenship. It explores the relevance of the nation-state to human freedom and flourishing, as well as the concept of citizenship that it implies, in contrast to that of the ancient polis and the "global community." The volume focusses on the shifting notions of various political concepts over time to present a systematic understanding of core concepts such as polis, nation and state from antiquity to the present. It includes contributions that analyze ancient and modern thought, and sections that address postmodern and contemporary thinkers, including Aristotle, Cicero, Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Tocqueville, Nietzsche, Arendt, Weil, Grant and Manent.

A comprehensive handbook to introductory politics, this book will be invaluable to students and teachers of political science, especially political theory, political philosophy, democracy, political participation and international relations theory.

part I|30 pages

Ancient Conceptions of Polis and Empire

part II|64 pages

Modern Birth and Life of the Nation-State

chapter 3|14 pages

Defining the law of nations

Revisions of Cicero's ius gentium in Suárez, Grotius, and Burke

chapter 4|20 pages

The creation of man

Linguistic reformation and the necessity of the state in the work of Thomas Hobbes

chapter 5|15 pages

Nation against empire

J.G. Fichte on economic and cultural nationalism

chapter 6|13 pages

Creating sovereignty

Religious authority, the social contract and the need for political friendship

part III|28 pages

The Postmodern Challenge to Nationalism and State Sovereignty

part IV|60 pages

Contemporary Challenges to Global Citizenship

chapter 11|14 pages

Loving one's own

Pathway to justice or retrograde tribalism?