S05 E12: Heywood's 'Political Theory' – Unpacking Tradition, Progress, and Utopia

• Welcome to CSS Breakdown: Book by Book, Season 05, Episode 12! In this episode, we delve into Chapter 13: Tradition, Progress and Utopia from Andrew Heywood's Political Theory: An Introduction. This chapter explores the central role of change in politics, asking if it's desirable and what form it should take. We will unpack three interconnected concepts: Tradition, which involves defending the status quo, reclaiming an idealized past, or prudently changing to conserve. Next, we examine the concept of Progress, the belief in history's forward march, distinguishing between gradual Reform and radical Revolution as pathways to change. Finally, we explore Utopia – the vision of a perfect society. We'll discuss its defining features, its purpose as a critique of existing orders, and the optimistic view of human potential it often embodies. We'll also consider the powerful arguments against utopianism, questioning its realism and potential for totalitarian outcomes, and why its prominence in political thought has declined.
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