Everything you ever wanted to know about modern political theory, but never dared to ask …This book offers a concise introduction to the main ideas and arguments of the major political thinkers of modernity. It considers the following key Hobbes, Locke, Bentham, J. S. Mill, Rousseau, Burke, Hegel and Marx.Perhaps the best way to understand the ideas of a thinker is to read from their work. This book devotes each chapter to the main writings of a single thinker, providing excerpts from their work and explaining their views in detail. Readers are not expected to have any previous knowledge of the writings of these eight political philosophers, but by the end they should have a solid grasp of their central ideas. This book serves as an essential guide to some of the most important writings on political philosophy of modern times.