This book focuses on the idea of a modus vivendi as a way of governing political life and addressing problems characterized by pluralism or deep-rooted diversity. The individual essays illustrate both the merits and the limitations of a political theory of modus vivendi; how it might be interpreted and developed; specific challenges entailed by articulating it in a convincing form; what its institutional implications might be; and how it relates to other seminal issues and concepts in political theory; such as legitimacy, toleration, the social contract, etc. The book makes a significant contribution to the discussion on the scope and limits of liberal political theory, and on how to deal politically with deep-rooted diversity.

Chapter 1: Theorising Modus Vivendi.- Part 1: Modus Vivendi, Liberalism and Realism.- Chapter 2: Why Theorize Modus Vivendi?.- Chapter 3: Liberal Moralism and Modus Vivendi Politics.- Chapter 4: Modus Vivendi and the Motivations for Compliance.- Chapter 5: Modus Vivendi in a Liberal Framework.- Chapter 6: Can Modus Vivendi Save Liberalism from Moralism? A Critical Assessment of John Gray's Political Realism.- Chapter 7: Modus Vivendi Beyond the Social Contract: Peace, Justice, and Survival in Realist Political Theory.- Part 2: Modus Vivendi and Legitimacy.- Chapter 8: Modus Vivendi and Political Legitimacy.- Chapter 9: Modus Vivendi as a Global Political Morality.- Chapter 10: Legitimacy and Modus Vivendi Theory.- Chapter 11: Modus Vivendi and Legitimacy: Some Sceptical Thoughts.- Part 3: Modus Vivendi and Political Practice.- Chpater 12: Political Thought between Finality and Indeterminacy.- Chapter 13: Motives and Modus Vivendi.- Chapter 14: Modus Vivendi and Toleration.- Chapter 15: Institutions of Modus Vivendi Politics.