[Ideas in Action: Political Tradition in the Twentieth Century]

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This book is a sweeping survey of twentieth century social and political theory that also has much to say about world politics. It will appeal especially to those with an interest in 'critical theory' and in contemporary debates about the problematic nature of 'progressive' politics after the cold war.

Among many other claims, Bronner suggests a need to formulate an adequate challenge to globalization -- a concept he equates with the narrow interests of transnational capitalists. To mount the challenge, he states that people on the Left need to rethink the links between 'ideas' and 'action.' The book contains a series of brief, lucid chapters on how ideologies in general, and …