This book challenges us to look at liberal political ideas in a fresh way. Colin Bird examines the assumption, held both by liberals and by their strongest critics, that the values and ideals of the liberal political tradition cohere around a distinctively 'individualist' conception of the relation between individuals, society and the state. He concludes that the formula of 'liberal individualism' conceals fundamental conflicts between liberal views of these relations, conflicts that neither liberals nor their critics have adequately recognized. His interesting and provocative study develops a powerful criticism of the libertarian forms of 'liberal individualism' which have risen to prominence, and suggests that by taking this term for granted, theorists have exaggerated the unity and integrity of liberal political ideals and limited our perception of the issues they raise.

This powerful and interesting study challenges the traditional 'individualist' definition of liberal political ideas.
Reviews
"Bird makes an important contribution to contemporary discourse on liberalism, not least because he adopts a unique, noncommunitarian critical perspective." Ethics
"...this trenchant and intelligent book will justly reward the reader." Perspectives on Political Science



Book Information
ISBN 9780521641289
Author Colin Bird
Format Hardback
Page Count 236
Imprint Cambridge University Press
Publisher Cambridge University Press
Weight(grams) 460g
Dimensions(mm) 236mm * 160mm * 24mm