How far should the state be allowed to invade personal privacy in order to protect against possible terrorist attacks?• Should offensive speech be regulated?Fully revised and extended, the new edition of this innovative and engaging text introduces the central elements of political theory from an applied perspective. Focusing on twelve high profile contemporary social and political issues, both domestic and global, this book shows how political theory illuminates and helps makes sense of important debates in public life.Now drawing on an even wider range of contemporary and historical political thinkers from different philosophical traditions and updated to take recent important cases and controversies into account, including a new chapter which examines the leaking of classified documents, this is the perfect introduction for students interested in how political theory can be used to help us solve the political questions of our time.

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