This title explores the actual and possible roles of evil in current-day international politics. Politicians and the press exploit the rhetorical strength of the word 'evil' in phrases such as 'evil regimes' or 'Axis of Evil'. But does it have any role in political theory? The contributors to this volume systematically explore the competing definitions of 'evil' and make sense of the political spin to discover how evil has shaped our judgements in humanitarian international law, post-conflict situations and the notion of forgiveness. They find suprising agreement in modern cultures on the evils that confront human communities - genocide, torture, slavery. It is here, where our tolerance reaches breaking point, that the concept of evil can be applied. It shows the usefulness of the concept of evil in the development of humanitarian international law, theorising post-conflict situations, the notion of forgiveness and making sense of political spin.

About the Author
Bruce Haddock holds the Chair in European Social and Political Thought at Cardiff University. He has published numerous books and articles, most recently A History of Political Thought: From Antiquity to the Present (Polity: 2008). Peri Roberts is Senior Lecturer in the School of European Studies at Cardiff University. He is author of Political Constructivism (Routledge: 2007) and contributed to Multiculturalism, Identity and Rights (Routledge: 2003). Peter Sutch is Senior Lecturer in the School of European Studies at Cardiff University. He is co-author, with Peri Roberts, of An Introduction to Political Thought (EUP: 2012).


Book Information
ISBN 9780748668595
Author Bruce Haddock
Format Paperback
Page Count 240
Imprint Edinburgh University Press
Publisher Edinburgh University Press
Weight(grams) 363g