In Defence of PoliticsIn this illuminating celebration of the political world, Bernard Crick asserts that politics, with its compromises and power struggles, remains the only tested alternative to government by coercion, making both freedom and order possible in heterogeneous societies. For Crick, politics is messy and complex, and his book defends it against those who would identify it with (and reduce it to) ideology, democracy, nationalism, or technology. This Fourth edition has been updated to include an assessment of the revolutions in 1989 in Eastern Europe. It also examines current situations in Northern Ireland, Israel and Palestine, and South Africa. "A short book written with verve and brilliance. . . . He has written an exceedingly clever and disturbing book on important issues, all that he writes is alive and much of what he says, even when it seems perversely provocative, turns out to be penetrating and serious." --Isaiah Berlin, 20th Century "One of the most thoughtful products of the political dialogues of the London School of Economics since the great days of Tawney, Dalton, Wallas and Hobhouse. Its sobriety, liberal spirit and toughness of mind are rare qualities in any political work." --Edward Shils, Guardian Bernard Crick is emeritus professor of politics at Birkbeck College, London, and honorary fellow of Edinburgh University. Among his publications are George Orwell: A Life. |
Contents
Preface to the First Edition | 7 |
The Nature of Political Rule | 15 |
A Defence of Politics Against Ideology | 34 |
Copyright | |
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action actual American anti-political argued argument Aristotle attempt autocracy become believe Bernard Crick Britain British circumstances civil claim common Communist conciliation conservatism conservative cracy create CREON culture David Widgery democracy democratic depends destroy economic egalitarian empiricism equality ethical everything exist fact fraternity free régimes freedom George Orwell groups human idea ideal ideology individual industrial institutions interests Labour Labour Party least liberal liberty Machiavelli Marx Marxist mass means ment merely modern moral nationalist Nazi party perhaps polis political doctrine political order political régimes political rule political system political theory politicians possible practical praise principle problem production purely R. H. Tawney racialism revolution Roger Scruton scientific scientism sense simply social socialist society sociological sovereignty survival things thought tion totalitarian régimes tradition true truth unity values Vance Packard violence W. G. Runciman