Two important criticisms of contemporary liberalism turn to Aristotle's political thought for support - that which advocates participatory democracy, and that sympathetic to the rule of a virtuous or philosophic elite. In this commentary on Aristotle's politics the author explores how Aristotle offers political rule as an alternative to both the rule of aristocratic virtue and an unchecked participatory democracy. Writing in lucid prose, she offers an interpretation grounded in a close reading of the text, and combining a respectful and patient attempt to understand Aristotle in his own terms with a wide, sympathetic, and argumentative reading in the secondary literature.

"Well worth study and reflection both as a fresh interpretation of the ^RPolitics^I and as a critical assessment of contemporary scholarship on Aristotle and modern political theory." - CHOICE

"All of us who teach the ^RPolitics^I, no matter how many or how few times we have done it before, will teach the books better and with more pleasure having read Nichols. ^RCitizens and Statesmen^I is a marvel of close reading combined with clarity and consummate accessibility." - American Political Science Review

"...excellent... It is the rare combination of responsibility to detail and broad comprehension that makes the book such a delight. ...of great value." - Ancient Philosophy

"Writing in a lucid, graceful prose, [Nichols] offers an original interpretation grounded in a close reading of the text." - Midwest Book Review