Political Theory - Why Big Ideas Matter

This textbook offers an innovative way of studying political theory: big ideas are presented to the reader across time and space. Students are equipped with the tools to decide which view they agree with - if any! - and are introduced to the energetic and contentious debates we encounter when trying to answer the most important questions in politics, from private property and legitimacy to power and freedom.

List of contents

Chapter 1 Human Nature
Chapter 2 Justice
Chapter 3 Property, Minimal Government and Reparations
Chapter 4 Freedom and Liberty
Chapter 4 Democracy
Chapter 6 Identity, Recognition and Intersectionality
Chapter 7 Power
Chapter 8 Legitimacy
Chapter 9 Crime, Security and Punishment
Chapter 10 Political Resistance
Chapter 12 Climate Theory
Chapter 13 Technology, AI and Basic Income

About the author

Simon Stevens is a senior lecturer who predominantly writes and researches about homelessness, civil disobedience and methods in political philosophy. In 2022, he won the Political Studies Association Bernard Crick Prize for Outstanding Teaching, in particular, for his efforts in ‘decolonising’ the subject. He teaches political theory at De Montfort University.  

Product details

• Authors: Simon Stevens, Stevens Simon
• Publisher: Sage Publications Ltd
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 14.04.2025
• EAN: 9781529795752
• ISBN: 978-1-5297-9575-2
• No. of pages: 320
• Subjects: Social sciences, law, business > Political science > Political science and political education; POLITICAL SCIENCE / Political Ideologies / General, POLITICAL SCIENCE / History & Theory, POLITICAL SCIENCE / Colonialism & Post-Colonialism, Political science & theory, Political structures: democracy, Political science and theory, Political ideologies and movements, For undergraduate education and equivalents, Textbook, coursework