Margaret Canovan

Broschiertes Buch

The People

Beschreibung

This groundbreaking study sets out to clarify one of the most influential but least studied of all political concepts. Despite continual talk of popular sovereignty, the idea of the people has been neglected by political theorists who have been deterred by its vagueness. Margaret Canovan argues that it deserves serious analysis, and that it's many ambiguities point to unresolved political issues. The book begins by charting the conflicting meanings of the people, especially in Anglo-American usage, and traces the concept's development from the ancient populus Romanus to the present day. The book's main purpose is, however, to analyse the political issues signalled by the people's ambiguities. In the remaining chapters, Margaret Canovan considers their theoretical and practical aspects: * Where are the people's boundaries? Is people equivalent to nation, and how is it related to humanity - people in general? * Populists aim to 'give power back to the people'; how is populism related to democracy? * How can the sovereign people be an immortal collective body, but at the same time be us as individuals? Can we ever see that sovereign people in action? * Political myths surround the figure of the people and help to explain its influence; should the people itself be regarded as fictional? This original and accessible study sheds a fresh light on debates about popular sovereignty, and will be an important resource for students and scholars of political theory.

Autor

Margaret Canovan is Emeritus Professor of Political Thought at the University of Keele.

Produktdetails

• Verlag: Polity Press
• Seitenzahl: 176
• Erscheinungstermin: 18. August 2005
• Englisch
• Abmessung: 213mm x 154mm x 13mm
• Gewicht: 227g
• ISBN-13: 9780745628226
• ISBN-10: 0745628222
• Artikelnr.: 22189703

Rezensionen

'"The people" are invoked or assumed by muchpolitical theory and practice, yet the concept rarely attractssustained analysis in its own right. Canovan's study fills thislacuna. As she notes, appeals to "the people" rarelyresolve political disputes for all too often disagreement over what"the people" means lies at their heart. Consequently,taking the people seriously proves frustrating for those lookingfor clear solutions to political problems, but is inescapable forall that.'

Professor Richard Bellamy, Academic Director ECPR, Co-editorCRISPP, Department of Government, University of Essex

'An immensely useful volume. Canovan does a superb job oftransforming "the people" from a cliché into animportant object of moral and

political analysis.'

Bernard Yack, Lerman-Neubauer Professor of Democracy, BrandeisUniversity

'Margaret Canovan's The People ... is the place to startfor those who work with issues of popular sovereignty and find itdifficult to come up with a coherent "theory" of the people.Canovan provides an excellent introduction to the tensions andproblems involved in the idea of the sovereign people, and does soin a way that speaks both to students and professional scholars ...Canovan is most compelling in describing the tensions involved inthe sovereign people. Her analysis is instructive and rich withexamples ... Canovan succeeds in the difficult task of making theissue of the sovereign people accessible to a wider audiencewithout downplaying the challenging questions that go withit.'

Political Theory

'People from various disciplines will find this book useful,whether they work in politics, political theory, social studies orsocial philosophy. But this is also an excellent introduction forthe layperson who is simply interested in these fields ... Canovandoes a superb job'

Political Studies Review