Sovereign states and civil society

Author: Tsai Ing-wen
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-10-01
Features: The relationship between sovereign states and civil society has always been a significant topic in modern political and social thought. From the historical context of Europe and America, this topic concerns the fundamental question of how a modern political order of freedom, equality, and peace can be constituted through the transformation of modernity. Since Hobbes in the 17th century to contemporary great political thinkers like Alasdair MacIntyre and John Gray, all have been based on this fundamental awareness of the problem and have constructed various profound theories on this subject. The author of this book explores the origins and development of this complex theory through the lens of the history of political ideas, clearly analyzing the relevant themes. On the other hand, the author also provides concise interpretations of the basic arguments of Hobbes, Kant, Hegel, MacIntyre, Arendt, and Gray. As conditions for the modern political and social order, sovereign states and civil society must be distinct yet interact with each other. This dialectical relationship must be mediated by constitutional law, human rights, and the justice of equality. The author expresses this argumentative theme within the explanatory framework of the book.