Political realism has recently moved to the centre of debates in contemporary political theory. In this monograph, Matt Sleat presents the first comprehensive overview of the resurgence of interest in realist political theory and develops a unique and original defence of liberal politics in realist terms. Through explorations of the work of a diverse range of thinkers, including Bernard Williams, John Rawls, Raymond Geuss, Judith Shklar, John Gray, Carl Schmitt and Max Weber, the author advances a theory of liberal realism that is consistent with the realist emphasis on disagreement and conflict yet still recognisably liberal in its concern with respecting individuals' freedom and constraining political power. The result is a unique contribution to the ongoing debates surrounding realism and an original and timely re-imagining of liberal theory for the twenty-first century. This provocative work will be of interest to students and all concerned with the possibility of realising liberalism and its moral aspirations in today's world.

Introduction: The resurgence of realist political theory1. The liberal vision of the political: Consensus, freedom, and legitimacy2. The realist vision of the political: Conflict, coercion, and the circumstances of politics3. The realist challenge to liberal theory4. Liberal alternatives: The liberalism of fear and modus vivendi5. Bernard Williams and the structure of liberal realism6. The partisan foundations of liberal realism7. The moderate hegemony of liberal realismBibliographyIndex