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M. I. Festenstein, " Pragmatism and Liberalism: Interpreting Dewey's Political Philosophy", Res Publica 1/2 (1995), 163-182: What is the relationship between the pragmatist tradition of philosophy and political theory? This paper contests both a 'received view' of John Dewey's moral and political philosophy, which emphasises its instrumental character. It examines Dewey's holistic account of the nature of moral theory, his teleological conception of moral agency, and the foundations of his liberal political thought in these two ideas. However, recognition of the centrality of this moral framework furnishes the basis upon which to contest a 'revisionist view' of Dewey, which promotes him as an important advocate of participatory democracy. Internal difficulties in this framework suggest that revisionist promoters must either skate rather superficially over his political philosophy (in this respect joining the proponents of the received view) or offer a substantial reconstruction of his political thought. Dr M. I. Festenstein, Department of Politics, University of Hull, Cottingham Road, Hull HU6 7RX. e-mail: M.I.Festenstein@politics.hull.ac .uk

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