Jeanne Morefield Livres

The book explores the inherent conflict within liberal theory, highlighting the contradiction between the commitment to universal equality and historical support for hierarchy and empire. Through the analysis of influential British liberals Gilbert Murray and Alfred Zimmern, the author, Jeanne Morefield, challenges traditional academic boundaries. She argues that this tension, both domestically and internationally, stems from a shared reformist goal: creating a socially conscious liberalism that inadvertently reinforces paternalistic structures rooted in preliberal ideals.

Focusing on Edward Said's cultural criticism, the book presents a political theorist's perspective, highlighting how Said's insights connect historical analyses of imperialism with contemporary global issues. Morefield emphasizes the relevance of Said's critique in understanding postcolonial politics and the pressing need to address current crises through this framework.

Covenants without Swords examines an enduring tension within liberal theory: that between many liberals' professed commitment to universal equality on the one hand, and their historic support for the politics of hierarchy and empire on the other. It does so by examining the work of two extremely influential British liberals and internationalists, Gilbert Murray and Alfred Zimmern. Jeanne Morefield mounts a forceful challenge to disciplinary boundaries by arguing that this tension, on both the domestic and international levels, is best understood as frequently arising from the same, l.