Changing Boundaries of the Political

Among the most striking transformations that Western nations have undergone since the 1960s has been the redefinition of what is political. The agendas of politics have shifted drastically, incorporating issues formerly considered private, while restricting intervention into spheres once deemed public. In this volume, noted European and American historians, political scientists, sociologists and economists examine how the boundaries of the political have changed in Western Europe. Going beyond usual disciplinary approaches, they innovatively discuss such questions as the early establishment of the political sphere; the relationship between religion and political militance; the shifting balance between traditional political parties and new social movements; changing concepts of public and private time; evolving approaches to family and welfare policy; the uncertain role of the state in international relations; and the tensions raised by issues of political economy.