Edmund Burke, the imperatives of empire and the American Revolution

In this present volume, Burke's ideas, ideals and arguments are explored and set in their original historical and political context. The volume places the reader in a position to understand the similarities and contrasts between the political philosophy of the Whig ascendancy in British politics and the republican political philosophy of the American founders. What comes to the fore is Burke's twin emphasis on continuity and justice, the anti-rationalism of his opposition to directly applying abstract political theory to policy decisions, the pluralism of peoples and publicwithin wtihin the empire, the crucial roles of political representation in good government, and the fundamental importance of the consent of the governed.