New Perspectives on Comparative Political Theory

This book considers the emerging subdiscipline of Comparative Political Theory (CPT) and its place within Political Theory. CPT is nascent but rapidly expanding field of academic inquiry and presents methodological and theoretical challenges to the wider discipline. Sakurai argues that CPT accentuates the very problems in Political Theory it was created to resolve because it operates with the same center-periphery dichotomy that it was meant to eradicate. Specifically, Sakurai questions the hegemony of Western political thought in non-Western societies and universities, as well as the skewing of the discipline toward political philosophy. Ultimately, the volume presents a novel definition of CPT and demonstrates how it can contribute to the cross-cultural investigation of political phenomena, helping us respond to political developments in a global context.

Redefines the concept of Comparative Political Theory (CPT) Reveals the limitations of existing methodological paradigms of CPT Considers the future directions for CPT and Political Theory more broadly

Autorentext

Takamichi Sakurai is Senior Researcher at the Keio Research Institute, Keio University SFC, Japan. He is the founding Co-Editor-in-Chief of the peer-reviewed journal Comparative Political Theory.

Klappentext
In this sophisticated, lucid and eminently sane book, Takamichi Sakurai makes a compelling case for engaging in comparative political theory as a rising branch of studying politics. He illuminatingly invigorates that field as a comprehensive project of interpreting political thinking's actual and diverse patterns, powerfully counterbalancing those scholars who associate comparative political theory solely with giving a voice to non-Western political thinking, or those who focus exclusively on its normative potential. This pioneering volume deserves to be read by political and social researchers across the board. --Michael Freeden, University of Oxford This is the first volume that gives us a genealogy of comparative political theory to this point, a fair assessment of its various orientations and methods, and a sharp analysis of some of the key case studies of controversies and contributions of comparative political theory. Sakurai offers his own direction for how we should now study this important field of political theory. This will be required reading for students and scholars of comparative and cosmopolitan political thought. --Andrew March, Professor of Political Science, University of Massachusetts Amherst In this provocative book, Takamichi Sakurai critically examines the current state of Comparative Political Theory (CPT) and argues for a new model of CPT that is more interpretive (than normative) and dialogical (than cosmopolitan). This book encourages us to think deeply about how to engage with different ideas, values, and practices across borders and cultures without being haunted by the West-Non-West dichotomy. <--Sungmoon Kim, Chair Professor of Political Philosophy, City University of Hong Kong In New Perspectives on Comparative Political Theory, Takamichi Sakurai argues that Comparative Political Theory (CPT) accentuates the very problems in Political Theory it was created to resolve because it operates with the same center-periphery dichotomy that it was meant to eradicate. Specifically, Sakurai questions the hegemony of Western political thought in non-Western societies and universities, as well as the skewing of the discipline toward political philosophy. Ultimately, the volume presents a novel definition of CPT and demonstrates how it can contribute to the cross-cultural investigation of political phenomena, helping us respond to political developments in a global context. Takamichi Sakurai is Senior Researcher at the Keio Research Institute, Keio University SFC, Japan. He is the founding Co-Editor-in-Chief of the peer-reviewed journal Comparative Political Theory.

Inhalt

Chapter 1: Introduction: Towards self-reflection on comparative political theory.- Chapter 2: A genealogy of CPT: What has it done?.- Chapter 3: The meaning of the 'comparative' of CPT: Comparative or cosmopolitan political theory?.- Chapter 4: Methods and approaches (1): The concepts of politics and democracy in the West.- Chapter 5: A case study (1): Political theory in Germany/German political theory (politische Theorie).- Chapter 6: Methods and approaches (2): The concepts of politics and democracy in the non-West.- Chapter 7: A case study (2): Political theory in Japan/Japanese political theory (seiji riron).- Chapter 8: CPT: How to conduct research on CPT.- Chapter 9: Conclusion: What ought CPT to be beyond the Western/non-Western dichotomy?.