Includes bibliographical references and indexes.

From 'provocation' to 'discussion' : a plea for continuation -- 'Reality' versus 'system' : conventional conceptualizations of a 'constitution' -- From 'system' to 'structure' : new questions about the social framework of politics -- From 'structures' to 'concepts' : problems of (self-)conceptualization of an alien society -- From 'concepts' to 'political culture' : the benefits of theory -- Between 'aristocracy' and 'democracy' : beyond a dated dichotomy -- Consensus and consent : necessary requirements of a competitive culture -- Symbolic capital as social credit : locating the core of the consensus -- An end of the beginning : a new ancient history and its topicality.