For a long time the study of political philosophy meant, and to a great extent still means, the study of Western political philosophy, especially liberalism, utilitarianism and socialism. The study of comparative political philosophy is still in its infancy.

Contributors to this volume are specialists of discrete political philosophies. They move beyond the Eurocentric bias to facilitate and exchange perspectives originating in the European, Chinese, Indian and Islamic responses to the perilous transition from `tradition′ to `modernity′ and to the community of human distress which characterizes such momentous transition.