This important collection reveals that Augustine's political thought drew on and diverged from the classical tradition, contributing to the study of questions at the center of all Western political thought.Studies on Augustine have burgeoned over the past decade, but attention has focused primarily on his writings on philosophy and theology. Less attention has been given to his political teaching, despite his well-known and influential statements on politics, most notably in his City of God. This collection of essays examines Augustine's corpus with a view to understanding his political thought. Taking seriously what he has to say about politics, the contributors here begin with Augustine's own reflections on politics-and often in writings where one least expects to find such reflections, such as the autobiographical Confessions, his letters, and his sermons.The contributors then consider the ways in which Augustine's teaching relates to that of his predecessors, the classical thinkers, as well as to the thought of other medieval thinkers, revealing that Augustine both drew on and diverged from the classical tradition and influenced the political thought of later medieval and even modern thinkers. This important collection thus contributes to the history of political thought and to the study of the questionsat the center of all Western political thought. RICHARD J. DOUGHERTY is professor of politics and chair of the Department of Politics at the University of Dallas.

Introduction - Richard J. DoughertyPART 1. POLITICS, NATURE, AND VIRTUESt. Augustine and the Problem of Political Ethics - Richard J. DoughertyThe Other Happy Life: The Political Dimensions to St. Augustine's Cassiciacum Dialogues - Michael FoleyPeace and the Order of Nature: Augustine, Giles, and Dante - Peter BuschDeeds and Words: Latreia, Justice and Mercy in Augustine's Political Thought - Ashleen Manchaca-BagnuloThe Centrality of Justice in Augustine's Early Investigations - Adam ThomasPART 2. ST. AUGUSTINE AND ANCIENT POLITICAL PHILOSOPHYThe Few, the Many, and the Universal Way of Salvation: Augustine's Point of Engagement with Platonic Political Thought - Thomas HarmonAugustine's Imitation in the Confessions of Plato's Teaching on Art and Politics in the Republic - Douglas KriesAugustine's Revision of Greek and Roman Esotericism - Ryan BalotAugustine's Ciceronian Response to the Ciceronian Patriot - Veronica Roberts OgleCity of God and Roman Sacral Politics - Daniel StrandAugustine and Platonic Political Philosophy: The Contribution of Joseph Ratzinger - Daniel E. Burns