The Making of the Modern State A Theoretical Evolution [Hardcover]

Nelson provides a historical overview of the theoretical and ideological evolution of the modern state, from pre-state and pre-modern state formations to the present. A major theme of the book is the need to understand the modern state holistically, as a totality of social, political, and ideological factors.State and Ideology State Formations The Ideal State The Christian Republic The Making of Leviathan The Metaphysical Theory of the State The Sociology of the State The State in Retrospect

This book is a welcome antidote to the tendencies in recent political science to denigrate and abandon the state as a foundational concept. Nelson tracks the concept of state from antiquity to the present, from inchoate pre-state forms to the modern state, demonstrating in his excellent survey that the anatomy of the state is both relevant and compelling in shaping contemporary political inquiry. A generous and accessible work that should be read by all students of politics. - Fred Frohock, University of Miami

Brian Nelson has written an excellent book tracing the intellectual history of the concept of 'the state' in Western political thought from the classical era to the present day. Working from a clear and concise understanding of the core elements of the state in political life, Professor Nelson does a remarkable job articulating its evolution over time, as well as the dynamic relationships between political historical development and political understanding. Nelson is unsurpassed in his ability to succinctly summarize the most central components in the writings of canonical political theorists, as well as the most significant historical influences on the development of those thoughts. The argument of the book, moreover, makes clear what Americans (and especially American political scientists) have lost by adopting an anti-state ideology that blinds most of us to the realities of the American polity in the world today. - Ronald Schmidt, Sr., Call"