POLITICS

Twenty-three centuries after its compilation, "The Politics" still has much to c
ontribute to this central question of political science. Aristotle's thorough an
d carefully argued analysis is based on a study of over 150 city constitutions,
covering a huge range of political issues in order to establish which types of c
onstitution are best - both ideally and in particular circumstances - and how th
ey may be maintained. Aristotle's opinions form an essential background to the t
hinking of philosophers such as Thomas Aquinas, Machiavelli and Jean Bodin and b
oth his premises and arguments raise questions that are as relevant to modern so
ciety as they were to the ancient world.