relationship between public and private space. This reconceptualizing of
the political space owes much to the inXuence of feminism, as do a number of
the essays themselves.
We have argued in our introduction that political theory is something of a
mongrel sub-discipline, made up of many traditions, approaches, and styles of
thought, and increasingly characterized by its borrowing from feminist and
critical theory,Wlm theory, popular culture, mass media, behavioral science, and
economics. These tendencies will be evident throughout the chapters in the
Handbook, but are most directly addressed in Part X, ‘‘Testing the Boundaries.’’
Here, we include essays that set political theory in dialogue with work in cultural
studies, political economy, social theory, and the environment. The current
academy confronts two opposing trends. One draws the boundaries of each
discipline ever more tightly, sometimes as part of a bid for higher status,
sometimes in the (not totally implausible) belief that this is the route to deeper
and more systematic knowledge. Another looks to the serendipitous inspir-
ations that can come through cross-disciplinary and interdisciplinary work; or
more simply and modestly, realizes that there may be much to learn from other
areas of study. It is hard to predict which of these will win out—and most likely,
both will continue in uneasy combination for many years to come. The essays in
this section reXect the importance we attach to the second trend.
All theHandbooksin this series end with what is perhaps unhappily termed
the ‘‘Old and New’’ section. In this case, it provides the opportunity for two
highly inXuential but very diVerent political theorists—Arlene Saxonhouse and
William Connolly—to reXect on their experiences and perceptions of theory as
it has changed, developed, improved, and/or worsened in the course of their
careers. Where other contributors were asked to weave their own distinctive
take on a topic into essays that would also work as overviews of the sub-Weld, our
last contributors were encouraged to write from a more personal angle.
6 Conclusion
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Ours is not theWrst or only handbook of political theory. We believe this
Oxford Handbookis distinctive in its exploration of political theory’s edges as
well as its several cores, its global emphasis, and its contemplation of the
34 john s. dryzek, bonnie honig & anne phillips