Croce, Gramsci, Bobbio and the Italian Political Tradition

Admirably combining conceptual and historical analysis, this collection of essays provides a series of imaginative interpretations of some important Italian thinkers. The essays ‒ all published during the past 30 years ‒ also remind us that Richard Bellamy's world-class contribution in this field has been inspired by his sustained engagement with the premises and principles of liberalism. While specialists in Italian thought will be especially grateful to ECPR Press for gathering these valuable essays together in a single volume, Bellamy's clear and elegant arguments should be of interest to all students of political theory. Joseph V Femia Emeritus Professor of Political Theory, University of Liverpool In advancing the tantalising claims that the Italians invented modern politics as well as one of the most important political traditions we have for understanding it, Richard Bellamy's new book is sure to entice and provoke all readers concerned with modern political theory and politics. Bellamy's decision to collect his essays, published between 1984 and 2005, into a single volume is therefore most welcome. Through them he shows how the diverse titular thinkers thought through problems of force and consent, morality and utility, mass movements and democracy, the social role of critical intellectuals, and the critical and utopian dimensions of liberalism and socialism. The result is an important book by one of our most sophisticated observers of contemporary politics. Walter L Adamson Dobbs Professor of History, Emory University