List of illustrations
List of contributors
Introduction
Part I. The Pre-Modern World: 1. World languages and human dispersals: a minimalist view Colin Renfrew
2. Nomads and oases in Central Asia A. M. Khazanov
3. Why poverty was inevitable in traditional societies E. A. Wrigley
Part II. Transitions to the Modern World: 4. On a little known chapter of Mediterranean history Karl R. Popper
5. Ernest Gellner and the escape to modernity Alan MacFarlane
6. The emergence of modern European nationalism Michael Mann
7. Sovereign individuals Ronald Dore
Part III. Modernity and its Discontents: 8. Science, politics, enchantment Perry Anderson
9. Deconstructing post-modernism: Gellner and Crocodile Dundee Joseph Agassi
10. A methodology without presuppositions? John Watkins
11. Gellner's positivism I. C. Jarvie
12. Left versus Right in French political ideology Louis Dumont
13. Property, justice and common good after socialism John Dunn
14. Social contract, democracy and freedom Gerard Radnitzky
15. Thoughts on liberalisation Jose Merquior
16. Peace, peace at last? John A. Hall
Indexes.
