The Life and Times of Liberal Democracy

By Crawford Brough Macpherson

Book Overview

In this brief but powerful book, acclaimed political philosopher C.B. Macpherson sets out in bold relief the essence of liberal democracy, both as it is currently conceived and as it might be... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0192891065
• ISBN13: 9780192891068
• Release Date: January 1978
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
• Length: 128 Pages
• Weight: 0.25 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 5.1" x 7.8"

Customer Reviews

Eye Opening Stuff.

This book was required reading for a class on political, economic, and environmental processes at The Evergreen State College. The word "liberal" in the title should not be confused with the modern use of the word, i.e., liberal vs. conservative. This book uses it in the classic sense of a constitutional democracy with protections for individual rights. The book is eye opening because it teaches that the evolution of liberal democracy has had less to do with idealism than it has with the enlightened self-interest of the merchant class. The book is somewhat dense reading (lots of ideas tightly compacted) but relatively short, and a worthwhile read for anyone who is politically active.