HAROLD LASKI: PROBLEMS OF DEMOCRACY, THE SOVEREIGN STATE, AND INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY

"Harold Laski's born in England at the end of the nineteenth century, was a theorist who helped shape political thought throughout much of the first half of the twentieth century. Primarily recognized for his contribution to the British pluralist tradition, arguing against state sovereignty and advocating devolution of political power to non-state organizations, Laski's later writings focused on the relation between capitalism and the sovereign state. This book explores Laski's pluralist thinking as well as his later writings on the problems of maintaining and developing democracy and freedom within and between capitalist societies. Lamb seeks to explore Laski's work on international politics and its continuing significance to the understanding of politics and the state today. The early chapters discuss Laski's socialist critique of politics within states, paying close attention to the turbulent environment of the early to mid-twentieth century. Peter Lamb closely analyzes and seeks to clarify Laski's ideas on democracy, rights, freedom and sovereignty. The book goes on to discuss the way in which he applied many of Laski's political ideas to the analysis of international politics. The final chapter investigates the contemporary significance of his work. Harold Laski will be of interest to scholars today who explore the overlapping themes of political and international thought."--BOOK JACKET.