Cambridge University Press States and Citizens: History, Theory, Prospects

The imminent demise of the nation-state in the face of global capitalism and supra-national agencies like the United Nations has often been predicted, yet in practice the death of the state seems unimaginable: indeed terrorist activity and corporate collapse have made states, if anything, more assertive in recent years, and the condition of 'statelessness' is regarded as pitiable and grave in the extreme. This volume, first published in 2003, offers a coherent survey of perceptions of the state, its history, its theoretical underpinnings, and its prospects in the contemporary world. The coverage of the Western European experience is thorough and wide-ranging, with the greatest post-colonial democratic state, India, as a comparative example. The provocative and accessible contributions of a very distinguished and genuinely pan-European team of contributors ensure that States and Citizens provides a unique and valuable resource, of interest to students and teachers of the history of ideas, political theory and European studies. Review '… provides a remarkably unified perspective on the state …'. Contemporary Political Theory Book Description States and Citizens, first published in 2003, offers a survey of perceptions of the state and its prospects in the contemporary world. About the Author Quentin Skinner is Regius Professor of Modern History at the University of Cambridge, and one of the leading historians in the world today.Bo Stråth is Professor of Contemporary History at the European University Institute, Florence.