Reconstructing Political Theory

In this volume leading feminist theorists re-think the traditional
concepts of political theory and expand the range of problems and
concerns regarded as central to the analysis of political life.
Written by well-known scholars in philosophy, political science,
sociology and law, the book provides a rich interdisciplinary
account of key issues in political thought.

While some chapters discuss traditional concepts such as rights,
power, freedom and citizenship, others argue that less frequently
discussed topics in political theory - such as the family,
childhood, dependency, compassion and suffering - are just as
significant for an understanding of political life. The opening
chapter by Narayan and Shanley shows how this diverse set of topics
can be linked together and how feminist theory can be elaborated
systematically if it takes notions of independence and dependency,
public and private, and power and empowerment as central to its
agenda.

This book will be of interest to a wide audience concerned with the
study of gender, and to all those in political science, philosophy,
legal studies and women's studies who are interested in the way in
which political theory and practice can be fruitfully reconceived
with the help of feminist perspectives.