Public Interest and State Legitimation

Discover the intricate relationship between public interest and state legitimacy in Wenkai He's insightful book, Public Interest and State Legitimation, published by Cambridge University Press in 2023. This compelling work spans 320 pages and offers a thorough examination of how safeguarding public interest was crucial to the legitimacy of early modern states in both Western Europe and East Asia.

Wenkai He skillfully identifies recurring patterns in state-society interactions, particularly in the context of public goods provision. The book delves into the conflicts that arise over public interest, illustrating how these disputes have historically led to calls for significant political change and the evolution of modern representative politics. A must-read for scholars and enthusiasts of political science, this paperback edition invites readers to engage with the fundamental dynamics that shape governance and societal expectations.