Abstract

In 1938 Michael Oakeshott edited Social and Political Doctrines of Contemporary Europe. It was and still remains a very valuable book, not the least of its merits being the Introduction contributed by Oakeshott himself. The present volume is described by the editors as its “unworthy successor”. The reason for their compilation is that since Oakeshott edited his book there have been significant changes both in political thought and practice. “The object of this book, then, is to isolate the doctrinal assumptions implicit in contemporary political thought.”