PREFATORY NOTE
Reading edition
Parts of this book were used in a series of four lectures that I gave at Kenyon College on the Larwill Foundation in March, 1920. I called the series “Democracy and Imperialism.” In April, 1922, I gave four lectures at the Leland Stanford University on the West Foundation. This series, which I entitled “The Ethical Basis of Democracy,” contained some of the same material as the Kenyon series, altered, however, in form and with considerable additions. Finally, I drew on certain chapters of the volume for a course of public lectures delivered at the Sorbonne (March–May, 1923) under the title “Les Ecrits politiques de J.-J. Rousseau.” I desire to thank the authorities of these institutions for various courtesies extended to me in connection with the giving of the lectures.
I. B.
Cambridge, Massachusetts February, 1924