Government And The Governed Routledge Library Editions Political Science Volume 13

This book, originally published in 1983 examines how effectively in Britain central government is equipped to secure efficiency and responsiveness and argues that as a result of shifts in the balance of power between the executive arm of government in Whitehall and the legislature in Parliament, the British system of government is neither as efficient, nor as responsive to popular will, as a strong democracy requires. The book considers which reforms are most likely to improve the efficiency of the government and to prove acceptable to British political and historical traditions. It reviews the way in which public debate is informed by government release of information and by the press and raises the question of how good a guide to the popular will referenda and public opinion polls are.

This book challenges conventional conceptions of politics which focus largely on the institutions of government and the associated struggles for power around them. It argues that politics is involved in all the activities of cooperation and conflict whereby people organize the use, production and distribution of human, natural and material resources. Found in all human groups, institutions and societies, politics everywhere influences and reflects the structures of power, social organization, culture and ideology. These central themes are illustrated by drawing on a wide range of societies, including the !Kung hunter-gatherers, the pre-Columbian Aztecs and the Pastoral Maasai, as well as modern Britain and Third World societies from Chile to China. Other examples - of village communities, a typical university department and the World Bank - show how institutions may also be analyzed in terms of the definition of politics used here. It is equally central to the argument that many of the most critical problems occurring in societies can be attributed to their politics, and this theme is explored looking at such problems as poverty, famines, epidemics, violence and unemployment in Britain and throughout the world.

* Provides a balanced, comprehensive account of contemporary trends in world, regional and nation-state government and politics * Captures the global changes, both theoretical and factual, of the past three decades - to give an unprecedented overview of political science and political affairs * Clearly and incisively written to meet the needs of students, lecturers and practitioners at all levels * Helpful bibliographies - of new and classic material and suggestions for further reading * Extensive index of Topics and People `Provides a comprehensive introduction to both the theoretical and practical issues of government and politics. It will be an essential purchase for libraries with in-depth collections in these areas.' - Reference Reviews `This up-to-date and well executed work provides a sound introduction to all aspects of political study.' - Choice `This is a work of immense scholarship and usefulness.' - Political Studies `In addition to copious citations to the research literature there are brief bibliographies listing major works "for further reading" at the conclusion of each article. This up-to-date and well-executed work provides a sound introduction to all aspects of political study.' - SUNY College at Purchase

Much has been written about the interpretation of Plato in the last thirty years. Once interpreted as a revolutionary of the left, and a prophet of Socialism, he has lately been interpreted as a revolutionary of the Right and a forerunner of Fascism. In this book Plato appears as himself – a revolutionary indeed, and even an authoritarian, but a revolutionary of the pure idea of the Good, and an authoritarian of the pure reason, unattached either to the Right or the Left.

* Provides a balanced, comprehensive account of contemporary trends in world, regional and nation-state government and politics * Captures the global changes, both theoretical and factual, of the past three decades - to give an unprecedented overview of political science and political affairs * Clearly and incisively written to meet the needs of students, lecturers and practitioners at all levels * Helpful bibliographies - of new and classic material and suggestions for further reading * Extensive index of Topics and People `Provides a comprehensive introduction to both the theoretical and practical issues of government and politics. It will be an essential purchase for libraries with in-depth collections in these areas.' - Reference Reviews `This up-to-date and well executed work provides a sound introduction to all aspects of political study.' - Choice `This is a work of immense scholarship and usefulness.' - Political Studies `In addition to copious citations to the research literature there are brief bibliographies listing major works "for further reading" at the conclusion of each article. This up-to-date and well-executed work provides a sound introduction to all aspects of political study.' - SUNY College at Purchase