Using the idea of property as an organizing concept, this text brings together key themes in political theory to show how they relate to reality. These themes include: the individual and community; freedom and authority; justice; equality; the state; and human nature.

The concept of property is central to political thought and crucial to understanding the ideas of key political thinkers. In this book it is used as an organizing concept, bringing together key themes in political theory and showing how they relate to reality. These themes include: the individual and community; freedom and authority; justice; equality; the state; and human nature. Offering an introduction to modern political theory and to key political thinkers as well as to the particular concept of property, the book also provides an explanation of the connections between property as an idea, an ideology and a practice. Case studies show the intrinsic links between property as a political concept and issues of gender, race and class, grounding the theoretical work in real-life scenarios.