Sandel`s Formative Repulicanism - Its meaning and possible problems -

Abstract

The purpose of this essay is to explain the meanings of Sandels recent political theory, (which Sandel himself names as formative republicanism"), and to address to the possible problems that this political theory might imply. In order to identify the correct location of Sandels political theory within the range of contemporary political debate, I have attempted a comparative analysis and compared Sandels political theory with some of the other theories of contemporary political philosophers in order to find possible similarities as well as dissimilarities. I think that this kind of comparative approach is conducive to understanding political theories, not only in the sense that it gives us a more clearer picture, by way of comparison, of the explicit contents of the political theory in question, but also in the sense that it provides us with possible means to interpret its implicit meanings as well. I hope that the approach I have adopted in this essay is helpful to the readers understanding of Sandel's political theory.