Buddhism and Political Theory
Matthew J. Moore
Reviews and Awards
"Matthew Moore's Buddhism and Political Theory is a fascinating work that unveils what Buddhism has to offer on statecraft, which has been mainly neglected by western social scientists" -- Punsara Amarasinghe, Religious Studies Review
"Moore's book constitutes an important contribution to analytic philosophy." -- Marilie Coetsee, Religious Studies Review
"Matthew Moore's Buddhism and Political Theory is a fascinating work that unveils what Buddhism has to offer on statecraft, which has been mainly neglected by western social scientists." -- Punsara Amarasinghe, Global Legal Studies Center at University of Wisconsin, Religious Studies Review
"Moore breaks new ground in two academic disciplines: Buddhist studies and political science, particularly in the area of political theory. Moore initiates a much-needed critical conversation between Buddhist and Western thinkers about the nature of the self, ethics, and the value of political engagement. In this way, this book breaks new ground in political theory particularly and Buddhist studies in general. Summing up: Essential." --P. O. Ingram, Pacific Lutheran University (Emeritus)
"What do the ancient teachings of Buddhism have to do with politics and political theory in the twenty-first century? In this lucid and inspiring text Matthew Moore illuminates entanglements between images of the self, the ontological dimension of life, an invitational ethos, and an enlightened perspective on politics. Moving back and forth between classic teachings and contemporary theorists, Moore makes an indispensable contribution to political thought." --William E. Connolly, author of "The Fragility of Things: Self-Organizing Processes, Neoliberal Fantasies, and Democratic Activism"
"A fascinating and long-overdue contribution to political theory. Moore effectively reminds us that Buddhist thought is valuable as a rich tradition in its own right, but also that it is an important and challenging conversation partner for Western political thinking. Western thinkers, he argues, have a great deal to learn not simply about Buddhist political thought, but also from Buddhist political thought. This book promises to further expand our ever-contested definition of what constitutes political theory, while offering a roadmap for those interested in engaging with this important tradition." --Farah Godrej, author of "Cosmopolitan Political Thought: Method, Practice, Discipline"
"Matthew Moore's Buddhism and Political Theory is a ground-breaking contribution to the growing literature on comparative political thought that situates Buddhism centrally in scholarly debates long dominated by Western traditions. The book introduces unfamiliar readers to Buddhism and the history of Buddhist theories of government, from the earliest accounts of Buddha's teachings to 20th century practices, and from Burma to Thailand to the Tibetan government in exile. This platform allows Moore to inaugurate a critical conversation between Buddhism and Western thinkers about the nature of the self, ethics, and the value of political action that opens up a rich terrain for political theorists to explore." --Michaele L. Ferguson, author of 'Sharing Democracy'