Our main point in this book is the need to focus on political action to optimize our ability to bring about needed changes. We contend that a better understanding of political action, and a more effective practice of it, require the building of new institutions, which have the additional benefit of fostering active citizenship and, thereby, the full development of our human potential.

We advance the study of political action, first, by an appropriate methodology. Second, we illustrate the utility of this methodology by examining the work of other political writers and by the conclusions from our own research. Third, we propose an agenda for the future study of political action. In essence, we reformulate the study of politics and make it adequate to the demands of modern society.