Abstract
One of John Horton’s most original and significant contributions to political theory is his development and exploration of the political theory of modus vivendi (MV). I examine what Horton understands a MV to be, what sort of theory he intends the political theory of MV to be, and why he believes a MV to be the best we can reasonably hope for. I consider how far his notion of MV matches the reality of contemporary political systems and whether ‘liberal moralism’ is quite as divorced from reality or as devoid of practical consequence as his political theory of MV would have us believe.
Highlights
One of John Horton’s most original and significant contributions to political theory is his development and exploration of the political theory of modus vivendi (MV)
I investigate what Horton understands by a modus vivendi, what kind of political theory he intends the political theory of MV to be, and what leads him to suppose that MV is the best for which we can realistically hope
I comment on how far his notion of MV matches the reality of the contemporary political world, the reality of political systems whose foundations are not embroiled in dispute, and consider whether contemporary political philosophy is quite as divorced from reality and as devoid of practical consequence as his political theory of MV would have us believe
Summary
Does Horton understand a MV? A MVassumes a situation of conflict, potential if not actual (2007, 55; 2011a, 121–4; 2011b, 292–4). Rather than merely holding up a mirror to reality, Horton’s political theory of MV may be no less normative in purpose than the prescriptions of liberal moralism. It offers us not merely a theory of legitimacy that differs substantively from those offered by Kantians and libertarians and a different kind of theory – a ‘theory’ that deals with the issue of legitimacy in a quite different way It shifts the focus from norms fashioned by political theorists to the empirical matter of how a regime is conceived by its own population. Horton’s account of MV aims not merely to invest the recommendations of liberal moralism with a more realistic content; it is part of a larger endeavour to reshape the character and purpose of political theory
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