Modern Political History, an Introduction

Study Book by Norman P. Barry.

AN INTRODUCTION TO MODERN Political THEORY

What is the nature and purpose of law in a complex modern society? Should people with necessarily diverse interests be held together only by simple general rules or is a more expansive body of coercive law required to prevent a collapse into disorder? Should the state be limited to the supply of genuine public goods, with the market predominating elsewhere, or do the collective interests of people require a powerful and intrusive role for government? Is a just society characterised by the fair and impartial application of rules or does it require a significant redistribution of economic resources so as to produce equality? Would such a redistribution undermine liberty and rights?