Book Review: Magda Egoumenides, Philosophical Anarchism and Political Obligation
| DOI | 10.1177/1478929916667035 |
| Date | 01 February 2017 |
| Published date | 01 February 2017 |
| Author | Jeffrey D Hilmer |
| Subject Matter | Book ReviewsPolitical Theory |
88 Political Studies Review 15 (1)
the essays’, I think that it’s fair to say that the
book starts from the more conservative ideas of
Schmitt, and after clarifying Oakeshott’s writ-
ings on the matter, moves to the less conserva-
tive or liberal-conservative ideas of Hayek.
Chapters 2–5 deal with the character of state
and sovereignty, and chapters 6–8 study and
analyse the theorists’ responses to crisis,
reason of state and the ‘exception’. Chapters 9
and 10 discuss their understanding of the rule of
law and try to clarify some common misunder-
standings of their writings. In the last chapters,
11–13, the essays focus on more practical or
institutional dimensions of their thought, with
special reference to Hayek’s ideas.
The book is well structured and quite help-
ful in explaining the rule of law in the writ-
ings of the three philosophers. I highly
recommend it for those who are interested in
this topic and who also have some back-
ground knowledge about the three theorists
discussed in the book.
Aref Ebadi
(University of Nottingham)
© The Author(s) 2016
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DOI: 10.1177/1478929916676923
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Philosophical Anarchism and Political
Obligation by Magda Egoumenides. London:
Bloomsbury, 2014. 281pp., £19.99 (p/b), ISBN
9781441144119
Philosophical Anarchism and Political
Obligation is part of the ‘Contemporary
Anarchist Studies’ collection published by
Bloomsbury. The author argues in the book
that contrary to sundry traditional philosophi-
cal justifications, critical philosophical anar-
chism offers a superior normative justification
for political obligation and thus institutions.
Chapter 1 asks, ‘What are the necessary crite-
ria of political legitimacy and obligation?’ and
Magda Egoumenides concludes that we
have to be committed neither to an inevitable
acceptance of the state nor to a complete rejection
to it … we can stay within the state and participate
in advancing the social aims it is meant to serve,
and yet always keep an eye on the way its
dominative tendencies and its coercions might
overstep its initial task (p. 54).
Political obligation, it seems, requires state
power. Anarchists will be incredulous.
Hence, the book is off to a controversial
start. Egoumenides argues that the domesticated
state requires political obligation, and that this
political obligation can be effectually obtained
by anarchist logic. Chapter 2 seeks to defend the
significance of ‘voluntarism’ in any formulation
of a theory of political obligation – an idea obvi-
ously consistent with anarchism. Chapters 3 and
4 introduce and critique the justification of
Rawlsian ‘natural duty’ and ‘fairness’ as foun-
dations for political obligation. Chapter 5 evalu-
ates John Horton’s contribution to the theory of
political obligation. Chapter 6 weaves together
the arguments from the preceding chapters in an
attempt to draw conclusions.
Chapter 7 is the most promising chapter –
albeit problematic. Egoumenides addresses
recent anarchist thinkers, including Bookchin
(pp. 229–236 ff.), Franks and Newman
(pp. 236–237) and Gordon. Here, the book
becomes especially thought-provoking as it
endeavours to connect with ‘concrete prac-
tice’. Regrettably, the chapter ends prema-
turely. Questions of control over the police
power of the state and health and education are
dropped without substantive discussion.
Egoumenides’ book is a fine exercise in
academic political philosophy. The difficulty is
that the author seeks to philosophise about
anarchy which is primarily a political practice.
Contemporary anarchists have scant interest in
Rousseau and Rawls or in theories of political
obligation and consent. Contemporary anar-
chists have an acute interest in pre-figurative
practices, including direct action and the con-
sensus process.
Jeffrey D Hilmer
(State University of New York, Potsdam)
© The Author(s) 2016
Reprints and permissions: sagepub.co.uk/journalsPermissions.nav
DOI: 10.1177/1478929916667035
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Studying Political Leadership: Foundations
and Contending Accounts by Robert Elgie.
Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan, 2015. 207pp.,
£65.00 (h/b), ISBN 9781137347060
The book under review refers to theoretical
studies on political leadership within three
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