AUTHOR APPROVED What role should the idea of evil have in contemporary moral and social thought? The concept of evil has a long history as a key idea in political and moral discourse. Intuitively we know what it means. Yet once we begin to think about its meaning we quickly uncover competing definitions. In recent years political theorists have generally set the concept aside as outdated or inappropriate. However, the idea that some things are especially wrong, beyond toleration, still has significant currency and 'evil' may capture that significance. Given this possibility, evil merits a closer look. While there is a small philosophical literature on evil, political theory has not revisited the idea systematically. The authors and editors of this volume make a start on this important task. Key Features *Presents a broad-ranging exploration of the idea of evil in contemporary theory *Offers a philosophical analysis of the role of evil in ethics *Analyses the idea of evil in classic arguments *Explores the idea of evil in politics The editors, Bruce Haddock, Peri Roberts and Peter Sutch, are part of the political theory research group at Cardiff University. Previous collaborations include /Multiculturalism, Identity and Rights/ (2003) and /Principles and Political Order: The Challenge of Diversity (2006). ISBN 978 0 7486 4196 3 Jacket image: Pol Pot's Genocide - Killing Fields, Cambodia (c) Phillip Craswell/iStockphoto