An essential guide to political theory by one of the world's eminent theorists.. John Dunn is the founding father of the Cambridge school, which introduced an approach to political theory that emphasizes the importance of historical context in the formation and interpretation of arguments and ideas. The Cunning of Unreason makes a powerful case for the application of the Cambridge school approach to the current political climate. Emphasizing the tempering influence of actual social and political circumstances, as well as the enduring relevance of great political thinkers from Aristotle to Marx, Dunn addresses contemporary debates about democracy, corruption, globalization, and the recent trend toward conservatism.