The Politics of Hope

First published in 1986, The Politics of Hope, the American contribution to the European tradition of political theory, seeks to establish a set of principles for responsible political conduct. It aims to explore and develop a ‘third way’ of politics, one which is free from the practical and conceptual problems which bedevil both classical Western liberalism and state communism.

Influenced deeply by the thought of Merleau-Ponty and with insights from the studies of Arendt, Gadamer, and Ricoeur, the author develops his arguments into a politics of hope that is a coherent, wide-reaching political doctrine. After examining the major constituents of political thought and practice, Dauenhauer applies the principles of responsible politics to the issues of authority, sovereignty, law, coercion, and political education.