Introduction

This book is a historical review of literature and ideas that make the connections between friendship and politics. Using pertinent quotations from a wide variety of sources, the book is divided into three main parts.

Part One: Interpretations of Friendship

Firstly, it explores interpretations of the concept of friendship, tracing its use from the Ancient Greek and Roman philosophical works, through to modern and postmodern perspectives, touching on different cultural, religious, and ethical connections.

Part Two: The Concept of the Political

Secondly, the concept of the political is identified according to different aspects and ideological emphases, looking at influences in different time periods, and demonstrating the importance of relational politics as viewed through feminism, identity, culture, globalism, and the ethics of care.

Part Three: Relational Politics and Civic Friendship

The third part draws together the political and friendship highlighting the importance of relational politics and civic friendship as a topic relevant for academic consideration of politics.