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In Defence of Politics (Continuum Impacts) 5 New Edition

by Sir Bernard Crick (Author)
4.5 out of 5 stars 4 customer reviews
ISBN-13: 978-0826487513
ISBN-10: 0826487513
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Product Details

  • Series: Continuum Impacts
  • Paperback: 262 pages
  • Publisher: Bloomsbury Academic; 5 New edition (November 7, 2005)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0826487513
  • ISBN-13: 978-0826487513
  • Product Dimensions: 5.1 x 0.6 x 7.8 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 9.9 ounces
  • Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,714,342 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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5.0 out of 5 starsThis is one of the greatest books in the 20th century!
By David Thomson on August 22, 1999
Format: Paperback Verified Purchase
I cannot believe that I am the first one to do a review ofBernard Crick's great masterpiece, "In Defense of Politics."This is a honor that forces me to question my worthiness. Crick so aptly understood that the aiming for a kind of absolutist perfection in any human relationship is dooming oneself to inevitable bitter disillusionment. This may especially be true within the political sphere. Those who indulge in a virtual cult of adoring specific "great men" totally misunderstand the goal of politics. Democracy can never be more than an attempt to search out a workable compromise between disagreeing citizens. A certain agnosticism concerning one's position is often required; a dogmatic true believer mentality may indeed become dangerous and threaten the very tenuous underpinnings of our governmental institutions. We must indeed strive to improve our political process. It is even a moral obligation to do so. Nonetheless, The search for the perfect and virtuous leader to give one's unhesitating allegiance and adoration has always resulted in a hell on earth.
The political process is often yucky, disappointing, and after much effort may leave one at best with a half a loaf result. It has been said that there are two things someone with a weak disposition may wish to avoid---viewing the processing of sausage and the making of human law. Am I a cynic and possessing a defeatist attitude? The answer is an adamant no! On the contrary, Crick and I recognize the glorious possibilities of an evolving civilization premised upon frail and imperfect human beings. It takes incredible physical, intellectual and moral diligence to bring about viable human relationships of any sort.Read more ›
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5.0 out of 5 starsHelp fighting fear and anger
By Edward B. Caruthers on January 11, 2011
Format: Paperback
One of Crick's key points is that losing is an essential part of the political (electoral) process. Everyone loses some of the time. But final, permanent and apocalyptic loss only occurs in absolutist societies which Crick contrasts with political societies. The political process always yields some results that are contrary to my ideology and to my interests. Forty years ago I was shocked by Crick's argument that this is a good thing. Now I hope the book will become better known and the author's position widely accepted. It's fine to work for my positions with passion and energy but not by spreading fear and anger.
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5.0 out of 5 starsA Social Democrat Classic
By Andrew Oliver on May 9, 2016
Format: Paperback
A social democrat classic. This 4th edition 1992 reprint would be well worth reading, by all reformists - and any revolutionary wondering about whether parliaments can be persuaded to enact meaningful social change for the better.

Having read the 2nd edition years ago, and having purchased a 4th edition (elsewhere), to compare notes as it were, may I comment that this was the defining book for high minded academic social democracy in the United Kingdom from 1962 to 1992.

It outlines a taxonomy of political types all across the parliamentarianist spectrum, save for Green and feminist types, who did not exist in such numbers and significance in 1962, the year of original publication. The 4th edition describes Bernard Crick's delight in the end of the cold war, with the collapse of the Stalinist Eastern European regimes, but did not attempt to update the taxonomy of political types.

It contains in its pages much about the strategy and tactics of parliamentarianist paper warfare and how to use these to advance the reforms of the day that have some degree of popular majority support.

Like in Australia today, where the deadlocked political system full of class warriors left and right has had difficulty enacting sensible remediation measures for climate change, said climate change being recognised all across the community all the way to conservative farmers seeing with their own eyes increased droughts and floods as climatic variability is increasing, at least in the short term.

Let the reforms advance: those that pass the test of majority popular support!
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3.0 out of 5 starsok
By E. McDonald on June 14, 2013
Format: Paperback Verified Purchase
I bought this based on recommendation - it is written in a way that I can not take, so did not get far.
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