"An extremely competent overview of the state/civil society debate in political theory from the Greeks to the present." Indian Review of Books "Restating the need for civil society, the author has succeeded in projecting the view that the existence of civil society may not be a condition for democracy but it is certainly essential for democratic life.... The author has done some vigorous writing and the presentation of the ticklish but very important subject is highly impressive." The Hindu "The book has double value. It can be strongly recommended for the graduate student and for the general reader who simply wants to inform herself about the concept of civil society, its nature, history and relevance. It should also be read by those more seriously involved in the often intense debates over the theory and politics of social and political transformation....State and Society is a valuable pedagogic text; a thoughtful and wide-ranging exploration of central themes in political theory state, civil society, power, rights, universalism, particularism, communitartianism, individualism, and a worthwhile and illuminating read." Indian Express Civil society is, according to Marx, "the struggles and the aspirations of the age." This expression has become the foundation of reconstruction for both left radical and liberal theory. In this groundbreaking book, the author focuses on understanding the state in terms of its relation to the politics of civil society and vice versa. Author Neera Chandhoke provides readers with a stimulating conceptual analysis by sifting through historical systems of meaning. State and Civil Society makes an original and significant contribution to the study of "civil society" and its importance to the infrastructure of a democracy. An important addition to any scholar's library, this unique book is a must read in the areas of political theory, social theory, political science, political sociology, and history.

lgrsnf/State and Civil Society - Explorations in Political Theory (Neera Chandhoke).pdf

zlib/Society, Politics & Philosophy/Government & Politics/Neera Chandhoke/State and Civil Society: Explorations in Political Theory_5698280.pdf

SAGE Publications, Incorporated

Pine Forge Press

Corwin Press

United States, United States of America

PS, 1995

lg2722875

{"isbns":["0803992475","9780803992474"],"last_page":266,"publisher":"Sage Pubns"}

Includes bibliographical references (p. [252]-259) and index.

The Concept Of Civil Society, Expressing What Marx Referred To As `the Struggles And The Aspirations Of The Age', Has Become The Foundation Of The Reconstruction Of Both Left-oriented Radical Political Theory And Liberal Theory. Most Of These Works See Civil Society As A Residual Category Composed Of Everything That Is Not The State. Neera Chandhoke Argues That This Position Is Flawed And Proposes That The State Can Be Understood Only By Referring To The Politics Of Civil Society And Vice Versa. She States That It Is Necessary To Sift Through Many Historical Layers Of Meaning That Inform The Concept And Unearth The System Of Meaning Which Can Stimulate The Democratic Imagination.

Chandhoke (political science, U. of Delhi) points out the flaws in the conception of civil society in abstraction from the state, positioning her analysis against the state-centric theories of political explanation that have come to dominate the intellectual world since 1970. Of interest to students in political and social theory, political science

2020-08-13