Overview

In this ground-breaking book, the author proposes a new theory of state, sovereignty and citizenship. He seeks to move beyond explanations provided by traditional approaches by discussing and presenting alternative state-society and state theories, arguing that the relationship between states has been neglected in existing literature. The book begins with a critical discussion of the concept of the state and society in social and political theory. It provides a political, historical and sociological comparative analysis of the relation between war, state, sovereignty and citizenship in France, England and Germany from the Middle Ages to the mid-17th century, with emphasis on the 16th and 17th centuries. It demonstrates state formation processes from the late Middle Ages to the twentieth century and lastly, analyzes the development of the state post-1945 and the transformation of citizenship in Western Europe in recent years. The issues discussed in the book are central to political and historical sociology and will be of interest to scholars and students working in both these fields, as well as to those working in political science and IR, social theory and history. In particular, the historical context enables comparison between old state forms and the most recent changes in the state system, providing a better understanding of new emergent forms of political organizations.

Full Product Details

9780754649526

Table of Contents

Reviews

Author Information

Lars Bo Kaspersen is Professor of Political Science at the Copenhagen Business School, Denmark.

Tab Content 6

Countries Available