Max Weber (1864-1920), generally known as a founder of modern social science, was concerned with political affairs throughout his life. The texts in this edition span his career and illustrate the development of his political thinking on the fate of Germany and the nature of politics in the modern Western state in an age of cultural "disenchantment." The introduction discusses the central themes of Weber's political thought, and a chronology, notes and an annotated bibliography place him in his political and cultural context. "Weber examines constitutional questions, problems of democracy, socialism, and economic policy, always with careful attention to the moral claims of political antagonists and their intellectual basis. The texts show his power as an analyst of politics and make clear that a serious consequentialist understanding of political life requires subtlety and historical understanding." Ethics A selection of Max Weber's most important political writings.