The Politics of Hope

First published in 1986, The Politics of Hope, the American contribution to the European tradition of political theory, seeks to establish a set of principles for responsible political conduct.It aims to explore and develop a ‘third way’ of politics, one which is free from the practical and conceptual problems which bedevil both classical Western liberalism and state communism. Influenced deeply by the thought of Merleau-Ponty and with insights from the studies of Arendt, Gadamer, and Ricoeur, the author develops his arguments into a politics of hope that is a coherent, wide-reaching political doctrine.After examining the major constituents of political thought and practice, Dauenhauer applies the principles of responsible politics to the issues of authority, sovereignty, law, coercion, and political education.