This exciting new textbook presents a clear framework for students to understand how themes and issues in political thought have emerged and developed throughout the 20th Century. Charting the progression from the preoccupation with the boundaries of the modern state, through to the current debates on rights, identity and justice; the three sections of the book enable the ideas of significant political thinkers to unfold through a telling of the key political events that gave a social context for their thought: Section I: The Inter-War Debate: Weber, Gramsci and Schmitt Section II: Post-War Debates: Arendt, Oakeshott, De Beauvoir and Adorno Section III: Contemporary Debates: Rawls, Nozick, Kymlicka and Foucault Written in an accessible and concise format, features include: 'rewind' and 'fast-forward' indicators to easily guide students around the text discussion points, revision notes and further reading in each chapter informative text boxes to highlight key concepts, people and events. By exploring an often ignored relationship in political thought, the influence of thought upon historical change and the influence of historical change upon theory, this text delivers new and exciting angles from which to approach politics today. Contemporary Political Theorists in Context is essential reading for all students of social and political theory.

Social Problems in the UK: An Introduction contextualises the most pressing social problems of our times drawing upon the disciplines of sociology, social policy, education studies and health studies. This much-needed textbook brings together a comprehensive range of expertise in the applied social sciences to discuss the social myths and moral panics that surround many popular debates. This is an accessible text that carefully guides students through the methodology of social construction and related theories to introduce key topics in the areas of: 'Race' and ethnicity The future of work Poverty and homelessness Inequalities in education Health, public health and mental health Ageing and the 'third age' This completely revised and up-to-date second edition covers the most urgent social issues facing the UK today, including an analysis of the Black Lives Matter movement, the Covid-19 health crisis and the new 'gig' economy. The second edition maintains the accessible style and easy-to-read format of the first edition, integrated with Key Points and Further Reading elements to further aid student learning. Situated firmly in the new post-pandemic, post-Brexit world, this text contains new chapters on all the most pressing questions raised in the media and in public debates. It will help readers understand the background and broader context of the UK's key social problems.

Social Problems in the UK: An Introduction contextualises the most pressing social problems of our times drawing upon the disciplines of sociology, social policy, education studies and health studies. This much-needed textbook brings together a comprehensive range of expertise in the applied social sciences to discuss the social myths and moral panics that surround many popular debates. This is an accessible text that carefully guides students through the methodology of social construction and related theories to introduce key topics in the areas of: 'Race' and ethnicity The future of work Poverty and homelessness Inequalities in education Health, public health and mental health Ageing and the 'third age' This completely revised and up-to-date second edition covers the most urgent social issues facing the UK today, including an analysis of the Black Lives Matter movement, the Covid-19 health crisis and the new 'gig' economy. The second edition maintains the accessible style and easy-to-read format of the first edition, integrated with Key Points and Further Reading elements to further aid student learning. Situated firmly in the new post-pandemic, post-Brexit world, this text contains new chapters on all the most pressing questions raised in the media and in public debates. It will help readers understand the background and broader context of the UK's key social problems.

European Social Problems is the first book to examine social issues in Europe from the perspective of the social sciences. It considers many of these social problems following the UK's 'leave' vote. Key topics examined here include: immigration; multiculturalism and religion; health; inequalities; education; riots and protest; drugs and crime; sexuality. These core issues run as a thread through Europe and are experienced by Europeans themselves as social problems. As such, this text facilitates students' direct engagement with some of the problematic constituents in their own lives. This text is suitable for those studying social policy, sociology, politics, international relations, criminology and education studies. In this way it functions as an accessible 'reader' for final year undergraduates as well as postgraduate students.

Michael Oakeshott was a leading Political theorist described by The Telegraph in 1990 as "the greatest political philosopher in the Anglo-Saxon tradition since Mill or even Burke." There has been sustained interest in his work, and a developing body of literature, over recent years. This book offers a clearly written and accessible critical analysis: it presents complex theories and concepts in a way that will introduce new readers to Oakeshott s work, and at the same time offers a fresh approach for those already familiar with his philosophy.

The Politics and Philosophy of Michael Oakeshott reveals how his work relates to contemporary political philosophy (for example, Arendt, Rorty, Rawls); and moreover, how it links to broader debates within philosophy and the social sciences and, building upon the work of Devigne, through to postmodernism.

This book brings together the disparate influences that have, at various times, been associated with Oakeshott s work, and draws from a number of essays which have been published posthumously. Referring to these, and other more well-known texts, the author makes sense of the many dimensions of Oakeshott s work by placing a moral concern as central to his system of thought. All in all this book considers the recently published lesser-known essays as well as the latest secondary appraisals of Oakeshott s work, which sets his thought in the contemporary political environment of the twenty-first century. This much-needed text with be of great interest to students and researchers in political science and philosophy. "

Michael Oakeshott was a leading Political theorist described by The Telegraph in 1990 as "the greatest political philosopher in the Anglo-Saxon tradition since Mill - or even Burke". There has been sustained interest in his work, and a developing body of literature, over recent years. This book offers a clearly written and accessible critical analysis: it presents complex theories and concepts in a way that will introduce new readers to Oakeshott's work, and at the same time offers a fresh approach for those already familiar with his philosophy. The Politics and Philosophy of Michael Oakeshott reveals how his work relates to contemporary political philosophy (for example, Arendt, Rorty, Rawls); and moreover, how it links to broader debates within philosophy and the social sciences and, building upon the work of Devigne, through to postmodernism. This book brings together the disparate influences that have, at various times, been associated with Oakeshott's work, and draws from a number of essays which have been published posthumously. Referring to these, and other more well-known texts, the author makes sense of the many dimensions of Oakeshott's work by placing a moral concern as central to his system of thought. All in all this book considers the recently published 'lesser-known' essays as well as the latest secondary appraisals of Oakeshott's work, which sets his thought in the contemporary political environment of the twenty-first century. This much-needed text with be of great interest to students and researchers in political science and philosophy.

This exciting new textbook presents a clear framework for students to understand how themes and issues in political thought have emerged and developed throughout the 20th Century. Charting the progression from the preoccupation with the boundaries of the modern state, through to the current debates on rights, identity and justice; the three sections of the book enable the ideas of significant political thinkers to unfold through a telling of the key political events that gave a social context for their thought: Section I: The Inter-War Debate: Weber, Gramsci and Schmitt Section II: Post-War Debates: Arendt, Oakeshott, De Beauvoir and Adorno Section III: Contemporary Debates: Rawls, Nozick, Kymlicka and Foucault Written in an accessible and concise format, features include: 'rewind' and 'fast-forward' indicators to easily guide students around the text discussion points, revision notes and further reading in each chapter informative text boxes to highlight key concepts, people and events. By exploring an often ignored relationship in political thought, the influence of thought upon historical change and the influence of historical change upon theory, this text delivers new and exciting angles from which to approach politics today. Contemporary Political Theorists in Context is essential reading for all students of social and political theory.

Focusing on the historical context in which political theorists have developed their thinking, this textbook provides an invaluable introduction to students of political thought. Political Theory in Context addresses each of the canonical major thinkers in turn, assessing them in their own time and showing how they were responding to or interacting with the political events and issues of their day. With key concepts, further reading and revision notes in each chapter, this student-friendly text is ideal for students who come to study political theory having little existing knowledge of cultural and historical developments.

European Social Problems is the first book to examine social issues in Europe from the perspective of the social sciences. It considers many of these social problems following the UK's 'leave' vote. Key topics examined here include: immigration; multiculturalism and religion; health; inequalities; education; riots and protest; drugs and crime; sexuality. These core issues run as a thread through Europe and are experienced by Europeans themselves as social problems. As such, this text facilitates students' direct engagement with some of the problematic constituents in their own lives. This text is suitable for those studying social policy, sociology, politics, international relations, criminology and education studies. In this way it functions as an accessible 'reader' for final year undergraduates as well as postgraduate students.