"Mark J. Smith presents the argument that existing theories of the state can be taken seriously as a way of addressing the present problems of understanding governance." "The book raises important questions to highlight how existing theoretical approaches can provide useful tools for understanding contemporary political developments." "Against this background, Smith explores three well-known approaches in contemporary political and social theory: neo-pluralism, neo-liberalism and neo-Marxism, and explores the work of thinkers such as Dahl, Hayek and Jessop." "This work acts as an introduction to the way in which state theorists see society and the state. Furthermore, by exploring the connections between substantive claims about the relationship between state and society, and the assumptions and values at work in state theories, this book makes a contribution to our understanding of both political theory and political 'reality'."--Jacket.