The Importance of Being Civil: The Struggle for Political Decency - Softcover

Hall, John A.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0691167974 ISBN 13: 9780691167978

Publisher: Princeton University Press, 2015

Synopsis

Civility is desirable and possible, but can this fragile ideal be guaranteed? The Importance of Being Civil offers the most comprehensive look at the nature and advantages of civility throughout history and in our world today. Esteemed sociologist John Hall expands our understanding of civility as related to larger social forces―including revolution, imperialism, capitalism, nationalism, and war―and the ways that such elements limit the potential for civility.

Combining wide-ranging historical and comparative evidence with social and moral theory, Hall examines how the nature of civility has fluctuated in the last three centuries, how it became lost, and how it was reestablished in the twentieth century following the two world wars. He also considers why civility is currently breaking down and what can be done to mitigate this threat.

The Importance of Being Civil is a decisive and sophisticated addition to the discussion of civility in its modern cultural and historical contexts.

About this title

From the Back Cover

"This highly original book is a major contribution to the study of civility and civil society, as well as sociological theory, nationalism studies, the history of ideas, and political theory. With impeccable scholarship, great erudition, rich prose, and a rare ability to integrate sophisticated historical and sociological analysis with specific recommendations, Hall provides a new understanding of civility."--Siniša Maleševic, University College Dublin

"Instead of going down the well-established route of analyzing the institutional networks of civil society, this book puts civility at the center of inquiry and, from there, moves outward to its changing relations with state, nation, and empire. Admirably comparative, it makes a major contribution to the subject and current debate. I know of no book quite like this one."--Frank Trentmann, Birkbeck College, University of London

"This important and engaging book explores the surprisingly diverse range of issues in which civility plays a key role. The book will be immensely useful to both specialists interested in developing new theories and general readers trying to make sense of an evocative but elusive concept."--Bernard Yack, Brandeis University

About the Author

John A. Hall is the James McGill Professor of Comparative Historical Sociology at McGill University.

About this edition

• Publisher: Princeton University Press
• Publication date: 2015
• ISBN 10: 0691167974
• ISBN 13: 9780691167978
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 272