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The Political Science
textbook "Towards a Science of States: their Evolution and
Properties"
The book is intended as a textbook for Political
Science students and as such it has been used at the University of Essex. But even so it also aims at a
broader public. Here are some opinions about the book: James N. Druckman, Northwestern University: "This
is a book that will teach students and citizens about how the state works.
The book covers nearly all forms of states – something virtually no other
book does. It is a must read." Mark
N. Franklin, European
University Institute: "This wonderful book is written as a textbook but actually it is a work
of theory - social science theory - regarding the nature of the state in
history and in the modern world. It is about how states come into being, and
why (and why there has, in the course of history, more often been anarchy).
It is also about why states are of different kinds and how those kinds of
state come into being and evolve into states of different kinds. I should
stress that, although world history provides the data supporting the ideas
put forward in this book, this is not a history book. It presents a first
class and cutting edge social science analysis of the nature of the state and
how it works - a modern day "The Prince"." Donald L.
Horowitz, Duke University: "Moberg's
[book] is a richly theorized, exceedingly ambitious study that brings us back
to fundamentals. The reader looking for a sophisticated treatment of the
nature of the state and of the variety of regime types will be richly
rewarded." Otmar Höll, Österreichisches Institut für Internationale Politik: "In our rapidly changing global environment,
reflecting more on “Statehood” in a comprehensive, evolutionary, and
comparative way is badly needed. This holds especially true in my discipline
of International Relations. The introductory text of Erik Moberg
provides an excellent overview that addresses the historic roots as well as
the current differences of States in various parts of our real world. In
bringing together ideas, theories and reality the book advances our
understanding of Statehood in the international system of the 21st
century." Jonah Levy, University of California, Berkeley: "Moberg analyzes the concept of the state and its
emergence and evolution over time. Perhaps of greatest value is his
comparison of different kinds of states or political regimes: dictatorships,
direct democracies, oligarchies, representative democracies, and situations
of statelessness. Informative and clearly written, Moberg's
book offers a useful primer for students and lay readers looking to
familiarize themselves with the basic attributes and varieties of forms that
states can take." |
