This important book is the first serious philosophical examination of the modern state. It inquires into the justification of this particular form of political society. It asks whether all states are 'nation-states', what are the alternative ways of organizing society, and which conditions make a state legitimate. The author concludes that, while states can be legitimate, they typically fail to have the powers (e.g sovereignty) that they claim. Many books analyze government and its functions but none focuses on the state as a distinctive form of political organization or examines critically the claims states make for themselves. In filling this lacuna Christopher Morris has written a book that will command the attention of political philosophers, political scientists, legal theorists, and specialists in international relations.

Christopher Morris (PhD, University of Toronto) is Professor of Philosophy and Chair of the Department at the University of Maryland. He is also a faculty member of the Committee on Politics, Philosophy, and Public Policy and was an Affiliated Research Scholar of the Institute for Philosophy and Public Policy. His interests are in moral and political philosophy, practical ethics, legal theory, and the theory of practical rationality. Some of his current research develops the implications of his book An Essay on the Modern State for international affairs and world order and, in particular, legitimacy. Other topics include justice and reasons for action and a number of questions about moral standing.