Perversity of politics

The subject of this book is the perverse nature of political behaviour. Highly paradoxical, the seeking of advantage is of dual character, consisting not only in the spoils of conquest but in the rewards of co-operation. These two facets of politics pose the perennial question of why co-operation's inviting prospects have never yet immunized politics-domestic and international-against the perills and sacrifices of conflict

The book finds an answer in the nation of the Power Overtone Quest for security. more than immediate gratification, involves manoeuvre by individuals and groups for future freedom of action Power all forms of influence not just physical force is sought as a reservoir to be tapped whatever the future may portand whether the knock of opportunity of the that of adversity. How to escape the attending prefaill of power as an and in insult is the central challenge to stare

The perversity of puses is heighaned by sources of conies that defy ultimate solution. Of ancient vintage is the uneary elationship of attraction and regulsion Betaman religion and state, sach side acertain as to where advantages Nor à perversity dispelled by the social scienion, themselves caught in the dogmatics of Nature persus Nurture, typified in the fundamentally different approaches to governance by a James Madison and a Karl Marx

Citing the American experience in particular, the final chapter contends that democratic government is best designed to abate the Power Overtone and to mitigate conflict. However, a minority among states authoritarian either by tradition or necessity, the democracies are further imperilled by an international environment in which the Power Overtone runs rampant.