Recasting Conservatism: Oakeshott, Strauss, and the Response to Postmodernism

Rating:
Summary: very good book on conservative theory
Review: While I am only a little way into this book, it is very good so far. I know a fair bit about Hayek ond Oakeshott already, but I am learning something new on every page. I am expecting the discussion of Strauss to be good too. The books seems very useful in putting H and O in the context of post WWII theoretical debates in the UK, which it is hard for Americans to get their arms around. Oakeshott is difficult to get through, especially the longer works. A good summary is very useful. The tone of the book is academic and not at all ideologically fired up. It seems the writer may be a student of Richard Flathman, who is a quite distinguished political theorist. The constrasts of Hayek and Oakeshott are also thoughtful and quite useful. Already, I find myself having a clearer view of American neo-cons, who make more sense as a kind of British style conservative rather than anything clearly in the American tradition. The academic writing style is not flashy, but it is very clear.

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