The Polycentric Republic
eBook - ePub

The Polycentric Republic

A Theory of Civil Order for Free and Diverse Societies

  1. 196 pages
  2. English
  3. ePUB (mobile friendly)
  4. Available on iOS & Android
eBook - ePub

The Polycentric Republic

A Theory of Civil Order for Free and Diverse Societies

About this book

The Polycentric Republic presents a compelling and innovative critique of modern social contract theory. It reveals how the social contract theory systematically neglects the interests and prerogatives of non-State associations and legitimates an imposing sovereign State that jeopardizes the freedom and integrity of communities and associations under its rule.

Drawing on neo-Aristotelian virtue ethics, institutional theory, and political history, the author invites us to reimagine civil order in a way that is more friendly to the diverse interests and prerogatives of non-State communities and organizations, from churches, schools, and universities to farming co-ops, businesses, villages, and towns. Building on MacIntyre's diagnosis of the moral and institutional failures of the modern State, this book offers a historically informed and institutionally rigorous critique of the pathologies of sovereign power. In addition, it proposes a novel reinterpretation of federalism as a complex, emergent order created through bottom-up, inter-group cooperation constrained by the rule of law but consistent with a wide variety of independent communities and ways of life.

The Polycentric Republic is essential reading for anyone interested in rethinking State-centric approaches to governance and civil order and exploring the merits of non-Statist, pluralist approaches, be they citizens, policymakers, or students of political science, political philosophy, law, or political economy.

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Yes, you can access The Polycentric Republic by David Thunder in PDF and/or ePUB format, as well as other popular books in Politics & International Relations & Conservatism & Liberalism. We have over one million books available in our catalogue for you to explore.

Table of contents

  1. Cover Page
  2. Endorsement Page
  3. Half Title page
  4. Title Page
  5. Copyright Page
  6. Contents
  7. Preface
  8. Acknowledgements
  9. 1 Introduction
  10. 2 The Freedom to Flourish: The Cornerstone of the Good Society
  11. 3 The Social Ecology of Human Flourishing
  12. 4 The Sovereign State and Its Homogenizing Narrative of Order
  13. 5 How Sovereign, Monocentric States Erode the Social Infrastructure of Human Flourishing
  14. 6 Six Rejoinders on Behalf of the Sovereign State
  15. 7 The Polycentric Republic: A Rough Sketch
  16. 8 Objections and Replies
  17. 9 Conclusion
  18. References
  19. Index