David Runciman is professor of politics at the University of Cambridge and a fellow of Trinity Hall. His books include The Confidence Trap and The Politics of Good Intentions (both Princeton). He writes regularly about politics for the London Review of Books.
Runciman's book should be appreciated for its attempt to present an alternate--and historical--approach to the issue of political hypocrisy. He successfully delves into the many fine distinctions that make up each theorist's approach and response to hypocrisy, which is particularly useful for a topic that so utterly lacks a clear division between black and white, and what is right and wrong.---Kiku Huckle, Peace and Justice Studies Political Hypocrisyis not just another denunciation of politicians as liars. Instead, it offers us a tour, from Hobbes and Mandeville to Bentham and Orwell. Runciman is best on the American revolutionaries and our eminent Victorians, perhaps because both the US war of independence and British empire required self-aware democratic politicians to gloss over the gaps between their proclaimed beliefs and their actual behaviour.---Richard King, Australian Literary Review More praise for Political Hypocrisy---Tim Dunne, Times Higher Education A subtle, impressively intelligent discussion of a topic that's on just about everybody's mind.---David Willetts, Prospect Journalists and pundits notoriously pounce on any evidence of hypocrisy. . . . Runciman takes a far more textured, sophisticated approach to the phenomenon inPolitical Hypocrisy, a timely, long overdue study of one of public life's in-your-face puzzles.---Carlin Romano, Philadelphia Inquirer [Political Hypocrisy] is highly readable and contains a plethora of shrewd and quotable remarks. . . . What struck a chord with me was [Runciman's] gentle demolition of the idea that a politician's profession of his own sincerity, or passionate belief, proves anything at all.---Samuel Brittan, Financial Times A very intelligent, subtle, and learned guide to the classics and to the pre-eminent historical examples of hypocrisy from Mandeville and Hobbes to Jefferson and the Victorians.---David Martin, Times Literary Supplement One of Sunday Times's Best Books in Politics for 2008 In a masterly survey of political philosophers, practitioners and writers, [Runciman] has brought out how they have dealt with hypocrisy in politics and addressed the question of when it is worth worrying over and when it is not worth worrying. It seems like a no-brainer, right? Hypocrisy is always a bad, bad thing. Not so, says David Runciman. . . . In this subtly argued, historically grounded look at the utilitarian uses--and varying definitions of--hypocrisy, some of the biggest thinkers in political theory throughout the centuries are explored. . . . A surprisingly brisk read for a work with such weight to it. . . by all means, give it a go. Political Hypocrisyis not just another denunciation of politicians as liars. Instead, it offers us a tour, from Hobbes and Mandeville to Bentham and Orwell. Runciman is best on the American revolutionaries and our eminent Victorians, perhaps because both the US war of independence and British empire required self-aware democratic politicians to gloss over the gaps between their proclaimed beliefs and their actual behaviour. --Richard King, Australian Literary Review More praise for Political Hypocrisy--Tim Dunne, Times Higher Education A subtle, impressively intelligent discussion of a topic that's on just about everybody's mind. --David Willetts, Prospect Journalists and pundits notoriously pounce on any evidence of hypocrisy. . . . Runciman takes a far more textured, sophisticated approach to the phenomenon inPolitical Hypocrisy, a timely, long overdue study of one of public life's in-your-face puzzles. --Carlin Romano, Philadelphia Inquirer [Political Hypocrisy] is highly readable and contains a plethora of shrewd and quotable remarks. . . . What struck a chord with me was [Runciman's] gentle demolition of the idea that a politician's profession of his own sincerity, or passionate belief, proves anything at all. --Samuel Brittan, Financial Times A very intelligent, subtle, and learned guide to the classics and to the pre-eminent historical examples of hypocrisy from Mandeville and Hobbes to Jefferson and the Victorians. --David Martin, Times Literary Supplement Runciman's book should be appreciated for its attempt to present an alternate--and historical--approach to the issue of political hypocrisy. He successfully delves into the many fine distinctions that make up each theorist's approach and response to hypocrisy, which is particularly useful for a topic that so utterly lacks a clear division between black and white, and what is right and wrong. --Kiku Huckle, Peace and Justice Studies One of Sunday Times's Best Books in Politics for 2008