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Jan Narveson asks the provocative, philosophical question: is the state necessary? In this unusual introduction to political philosophy, Narveson draws on the history of political philosophy and discusses its main theories – classic liberal, democratic, socialist, radical – with reference to how each sees the place of the individual in the political order. Narveson’s critique is situated within issues of freedom, authority, economic welfare, international relations and others to explore how and whether the state is necessary. His argument is ultimately anti-statist and takes seriously the question of whether and how some version of anarchism might make sense.

“Since the Western tradition of political philosophy first took root in ancient Greece, it has grappled with three overarching questions: What, if anything justifies the government’s existence? Assuming that government can be justified or is simply found to be inevitable, what form should it take? And what should the government do? . . . Jan Narveson’s most recent book, You and the State: A Fairly Brief Introduction to Political Philosophy, has the virtue of paying due attention to all three of the big questions, treating them in an accessible and engaging manner well suited to anyone exploring the subject for the first time.” – Fall 2009 , The Independent Review: A Journal of Political Economy

Jan Narveson is Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Political Science at the University of Waterloo in Ontario. He has written and lectured widely on moral and political subjects. Narveson is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada and was named Officer of the Order of Canada in 2003 for distinguished lifetime achievement.