The ever-wary James Madison viewed his fellow citizens as anything but angelic. In this radically new interpretation, Richard Matthews portrays a much less optimistic (and yet more liberal) Madison than we've seen before. Neither civic humanist nor democrat, this Madison is a distrusting, calculating, and pragmatic Machiavellian Prince. Unlike previous authors, Matthews goes well beyond Madison's work on the Constitution to reconstruct the complete range of Madison's political thought and intellectual development over the course of his extensive life. In the process, he provides a powerful critique of Madisonian politics. It is possible, he shows, to applaud the energy, design, and intellect that went into Madison's thought and simultaneously challenge the assumptions and values upon which that thought rests.

1.2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. The Acknowledgments -- Introduction : in search of the "Great little Madison" -- James Madison : constant liberal prince -- Madison's worldview : indolent humanity, Malthusian reality, and "the economy of nature" -- Madisonian humanity : the timid individual and passionate groups -- Civil society : the politics of economics and society -- Property : rights and possessions, Democracy and despair -- Madisonian government : "The greatest of all reflections?" -- Jefferson's Madison : "Frigid speculations" or "Generous spasms of the heart" -- Madisonian dream : the illusion of a future -- Selected bibliography -- Index. Acknowledgements -- Introduction: In search of the "Great Little Madison" -- 1: James Madison: Constant Liberal Prince -- 2: Madison's Worldview:Indolent Humanity, Malthusian Reality, and "the Economy of Nature" -- 3: Madisonian Humanity: The Timid Individual and Passionate Groups -- 4: Civil Society: the Politics of Economics and Society -- 5: Property: Rights and Possessions, Democracy and Despair -- 6: Madisonian Government: "The greatest of all reflectionsà?" -- 7: Jefferson's Madison: "Frigid Speculations" or "Generous Spasms of the Heart" -- 8: The Madisonian Dream: the Illusion of a Future -- Selected Bibliography -- Index.