In this thoughtful and passionately argued book Magda Egoumenides advances a distinctive approach to the problem of justifying political institutions that she calls 'critical philosophical anarchism'. After critically assessing a variety of justifications of state authority, Egoumenides distinguishes her own view from other forms of philosophical anarchism by locating it firmly within a more comprehensive anarchist theory. The result is a book that raises serious questions about the existing literature on political obligation, while also offering a controversial and challenging alternative; and in the process Egoumenides does much to revive the vitality of anarchist thinking. * John Horton, Emeritus Professor of Political Philosophy at Keele University, UK * Magda Egoumenides has done us the great service of keeping critical philosophical anarchism on the agenda of political philosophy. While not quite arguing for a anarchist position herself, Egoumenides demonstrates the importance of taking both the critical perspective and the positive insights of anarchism seriously. She reminds us that the existence of the state and the scope of its activities always face substantial moral challenge, and the battle for state legitimacy has to be fought and won on very difficult terrain. And she convincingly shows that anarchist theorists can also face challenges in living up to their own standards. This is a fresh and incisive contribution to the debate. * Jonathan Wolff, Professor of Philosophy, University College London, UK * Philosophical Anarchism and Political Obligation speaks very cautiously and constructively to three constituencies: political philosophers who are troubled by the fundamental problem of political obligation; philosophical anarchists who are troubled by the grounds for and implications of their position; and political anarchists who are troubled by the fact that most people do not share their revolutionary point of view. As a member of all three constituencies, I find the book especially valuable. * Paul McLaughlin, Senior Lecturer, University of Tartu, Estonia * Magda Egoumenides' Philosophical Anarchism and Political Obligation is a rigorous and knowledgeable account of the analytic philosophical reading of anarchism. Egoumenides perceptively extends the scope of philosophical anarchism's critique of 'political obligation' to contemporary anarchist and liberal theorists and arguments. It is a highly relevant text for all those engaged in this tradition. * Benjamin Franks, Lecturer, University of Glasgow, Scotland *