Political science and theory Books

11216 products


  • Taylor & Francis Ltd Technocracy

    1 in stock

    a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

    1 in stock

    £37.99

  • Taylor & Francis Insights of Administrative Thinkers

    15 in stock

    Book Synopsis

    15 in stock

    £37.99

  • An Unfinished Story Return of Pinocchio

    Austin Macauley Publishers An Unfinished Story Return of Pinocchio

    2 in stock

    Book Synopsis

    2 in stock

    £6.99

  • Modeling Nonlinearity and Interaction in Regression Analysis Using Spline Variables

    Sage Publications Modeling Nonlinearity and Interaction in Regression Analysis Using Spline Variables

    2 in stock

    Book SynopsisThis volume addresses the issue of linear constraints in regression modeling. Author Roger A. Wojtkiewicz uses the method of knotted spline variables (also known as piecewise linear regression) and a new method involving group spline variables to model nonlinearity in a variety of situations. Using spline variables to model nonlinearity allows researchers to specify unrestricted models for models that involve interval variables, allowing for greater flexibility in modeling any possible interaction.

    2 in stock

    £35.14

  • The Politics of Order in Informal Markets

    Cambridge University Press The Politics of Order in Informal Markets

    2 in stock

    Book SynopsisProperty rights are important for economic exchange, but many governments don''t protect them. Private market organizations can fill this gap by providing an institutional structure to enforce agreements, but with this power comes the ability to extort group members. Under what circumstances, then, will private organizations provide a stable environment for economic activity? Based on market case studies and a representative survey of traders in Lagos, Nigeria, this book argues that threats from the government can force an association to behave in ways that promote trade. The findings challenge the conventional wisdom that private good governance in developing countries thrives when the government keeps its hands off private group affairs. Instead, the author argues, leaders among traders behave in ways that promote trade primarily because of the threat of government intrusion.Trade Review'Grossman has written a gem of a book. Private governance of the day-to-day operations of urban informal markets is under-theorized and notoriously difficult to study. Grossman brilliantly addresses these challenges, highlighting the surprising benefits of the threat of government predation and conducting an impressive survey of Lagos traders informed by rich case studies. Anyone wanting to understand the political economy of informal spaces or looking for an outstanding example of theoretically-informed fieldwork should read this book.' Gwyneth McClendon, New York University'This book is a timely and significant contribution to understanding the complex dynamics of the economic landscape of Lagos informal market structures. This comprehensive assessment of market associations provides not only grounded knowledge, but also new insights into the internal workings of the informal economy, everyday politics and interactions with the state. It is a remarkable reference book for researchers in urban studies and governance.' Taibat Lawanson, University of Lagos'Based on extensive fieldwork in Lagos, Grossman investigates the inner workings of Nigerian market activity. The book illustrates how private governance institutions often govern complex market arrangements and do so better in the shadow of the state. It offers a new and compelling analysis of the relationship between states and markets that challenges those studying developing economies to pay closer attention to governance provided by market participants themselves. It is a rigorous, fascinating, and important contribution to our understanding of institutions. Highly recommended.' David Skarbek, Brown University'Can private governance promote trade and economic development? Shelby Grossman offers a persuasive theory that nonstate governance performs best precisely when states also regulate economic affairs. Meticulous survey and qualitative evidence from markets in Nigeria reveals how informal leaders promote cooperation and enforce property rights precisely when trying to avoid government meddling. The result is a fresh perspective on some of the most fundamental questions about state-society relations in political economy.' Alisha Caroline Holland, Harvard UniversityTable of Contents1. Introduction; 2. Market Associations: An Overview; 3. Conducting a Representative Survey of Informal Traders; 4. A Calm Sea Does Not Make a Good Sailor: A Theory of Private Good Governance; 5. Government Threats and Group Leader Strength; 6. Business is Secret: Government Threats and Within-Group Competition; 7. Private Groups in Comparative Perspective; A. Appendix to Chapter 2 – Market Associations: An Overview; B. Appendix to Chapter 3 – Conducting a Representative Survey of Informal Traders; C. Appendix to Chapter 4 – A Calm Sea Does Not Make a Good Sailor – A Theory of Private Good Governance; D. Appendix to Chapter 6 – Government Threats and Within-Group Competition; E. Appendix to Chapter 7 – Private Groups in Comparative Perspective.

    2 in stock

    £99.13

  • The Global Justice Reader

    John Wiley and Sons Ltd The Global Justice Reader

    15 in stock

    Book SynopsisA unique compendium of foundational and contemporary writings in global justice, newly revised and expanded The Global Justice Reader is the first resource of its kind to focus exclusively on this important topic in moral and political philosophy, providing an expertly curated selection of both classic and contemporary work in one comprehensive volume. Purpose-built for course work, this collection brings together the best in the field to help students appreciate the philosophical dimensions of critical global issues and chart the development of diverse concepts of justice and morality. Newly revised and expanded, the Reader presents key writings of the most influential writers on global justice, including Thomas Hobbes, Immanuel Kant, John Stuart Mill, Martha C. Nussbaum, and Peter Singer. Thirty-nine chapters across eleven thematically organized sections explore sovereignty, rights to self-determination, human rights, nationalism and patriotism, cosmopoTable of ContentsPreface for the First Edition Preface for the Revised Edition Acknowledgements Introduction PART 1: Sovereignty Introduction 1 Thomas Hobbes, "Leviathan" 2 Charles R. Beitz, "A State of Nature" 3 Thomas W. Pogge, "Cosmopolitanism and Sovereignty" PART 2: Rights to Self-determination Introduction 4 Avishai Margalit & Joseph Raz, "National Self-Determination" 5 Allen Buchanan, "Theories of Secession" PART 3: Human Rights Introduction 6 UN, Universal Declaration of Human Rights 7 Leif Wenar, "The Nature of Rights" 8 James W. Nickel, "Making Sense of Human Rights" 9 Peter Jones, "Group Rights and Group Oppression" 10 David Sussman, "What's Wrong with Torture?" Part 4: Nationalism and Patriotism Introduction 11 Martha C. Nussbaum, "Patriotism and Cosmopolitanism" 12 Richard W. Miller, "Cosmopolitan Respect and Patriotic Concern" Part 5: Cosmopolitanism Introduction 13 Immanuel Kant, Perpetual Peace 14 Pauline Kleingeld, "Kantian Patriotism" 15 Simon Caney, "Cosmopolitan Justice and Equalizing Opportunities" 16 Thom Brooks, "Philosophy Unbound" Part 6: Immigration and Citizenship Introduction 17 David Miller, "Immigrants, Nations, and Citizenship" 18 Michael Blake, "Immigration, Jurisdiction and Exclusion" 19 Samuel Scheffler, "Immigration and the Significance of Culture" Part 7: Global Poverty Introduction 20 Peter Singer, "Famine, Affluence, and Morality" 21 David Miller, "Distributing Responsibilities" 22 Thom Brooks, "Remedial Responsibilities beyond Nations" 23 Thomas Nagel, "The Problem of Global Justice" 24 Andreas Sangiovannni, "How Practices Matter" 25 Lea Ypi, Robert E. Goodin and Christian Barry, "Associative Duties, Global Justice and the Colonies" Part 8: Just War Introduction 26 St Thomas Aquinas, "War, Sedition, and Killing" 27 John Stuart Mill, "A Few Words on Non-Intervention" 28 UN, Charter, Chapter VII 29 Thomas Nagel, "War and Massacre" 30 Jeff McMahan, "Just Cause for War" 31 Seth Lazar, "Necessity in Self-defense and War" Part 9 Terrorism Introduction 32 David Rodin, "Terrorism without Intention" 33 Saul Smilansky, "Terrorism, Justification, and Illusion" Part 10 Women and Global Justice Introduction 34 Susan Moller Okin, "Is Multiculturalism Bad for Women?" 35 Susan Moller Okin, "Poverty, Well-being and Gender" 36 Martha C. Nussbaum, "On hearing women's voices" Part 11 Climate Change Introduction 37 Stephen M Gardiner, "The Real Tragedy of the Commons" 38 Simon Caney, "Just Emissions" 39 Thom Brooks, "How Not to Save the Planet" Bibliography Index

    15 in stock

    £44.60

  • Social Movements

    John Wiley and Sons Ltd Social Movements

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisTable of ContentsForeword to the Third Edition vi Chapter 1 The Study of Social Movements: Recurring Questions, (Partially) Changing Answers 1 Chapter 2 Social Changes and Social Movements 31 Chapter 3 The Symbolic Dimension of Collective Action 66 Chapter 4 Collective Action and Identity 90 Chapter 5 Individuals, Networks, and Participation 113 Chapter 6 Organizations and Organizing within Social Movements 134 Chapter 7 Eventful Protests 161 Chapter 8 Political Opportunities for Social Movements 197 Chapter 9 The Effects of Social Movements 232 References 260 Index 321

    1 in stock

    £29.40

  • The Statesmans Yearbook 2023

    Palgrave Macmillan The Statesmans Yearbook 2023

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisNow in its 159th edition, The Statesman's Yearbook continues to be the reference work of choice for accurate and reliable information on every country in the world. Covering political, economic, social and cultural aspects, the Yearbook is also available online for subscribing institutions.Table of ContentsFlags of the World/Map of the World .- Key World Facts.- Chronology of World Events.- PART I International Organizations.- PART II: COUNTRIES OF THE WORLD A-Z.- Key Historical Events.- Territory and Population.- Social Statistics.- Climate.- Constitution and Government.- Government Chronology.- Recent Elections.- Current Government.- Current Leaders.- Defence.- Economy.- Energy and Natural Resources.- Environment.- Industry.- International Trade.- Communications.- Social Institutions.- Culture.- Diplomatic Representatives.- Further Reading.- Sources.- Abbreviations.- Place and International Organizations Index.- Index of Current leaders.

    1 in stock

    £237.49

  • Faithful Presence

    Thomas Nelson Publishers Faithful Presence

    2 in stock

    Book SynopsisTwo-term governor of Tennessee Bill Haslam reveals how faith--too often divisive and contentious--can be a redemptive and unifying presence in the public square.As a former mayor and governor, Bill Haslam has long been at the center of politics and policy on local, state, and federal levels. And he has consistently been guided by his faith, which influenced his actions on issues ranging from capital punishment to pardons, health care to abortion, welfare to free college tuition. Yet the place of faith in public life has been hotly debated since our nation''s founding, and the relationship of church and state remains contentious to this day--and for good reason. Too often, Bill Haslam argues, Christians end up shaping their faith to fit their politics rather than forming their politics to their faith. They seem to forget their calling is to be used by God in service of others rather than to use God to reach their own desires and ends.Faithful Presen

    2 in stock

    £11.89

  • Hegemony

    John Wiley and Sons Ltd Hegemony

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisPower rarely works by force alone: it also rules by winning hearts and minds. States, classes, and social groups all seek political dominance by exerting political, ideological, or cultural leadership over others. This idea – hegemony – is a subtle, complex one, which is too often applied crudely. In this succinct introduction, political theorist James Martin skilfully examines these nuances and shines a new light on hegemony. He introduces its component ideas and critically surveys the most influential thinking about hegemony, from Gramsci’s theory of hegemony as a revolutionary strategy and Marxist theories of the state, politics, and culture to the Post-Marxist project of radical democracy. He then considers the concept’s critical role in analysing international politics and global political economy, and evaluates the criticism that hegemony is too state-centric to truly capture the dynamics of contemporary struggles for emancipation. This lucid and accessible guide to hegemony will be essential reading for all students of radical politics and social and political theory.Trade Review"In this well-written, theoretically sophisticated, and historically contextualized introduction to the concept of hegemony, James Martin introduces the background to the concept, and reflects on its significance in Gramsci and its subsequent appropriations in politics and international relations. It is an excellent account of the breadth and depth of the concept, its critical application, strengths, and weaknesses."—Bob Jessop, University of Lancaster "Through a series of chapters that explore the past, present, and future of the concept, Martin brightly illuminates hegemony and subtly shows why it may be the sine qua non of political theorizing."—Samuel A. Chambers, Johns Hopkins UniversityTable of ContentsAcknowledgements1 What is Hegemony?2 Gramsci: Hegemony and Revolution3 Marxism: Hegemony and the State4 Post-Marxism: Hegemony and Radical Democracy5 Beyond the State: Hegemony in the World6 The End of Hegemony?ReferencesIndex

    1 in stock

    £14.24

  • Deliberative Democracy

    John Wiley and Sons Ltd Deliberative Democracy

    2 in stock

    Book SynopsisToday, deliberative democracy is the most widely discussed theory of democracy. Its proponents argue that important decisions of law and policy should ideally turn not on the force of numbers but on the force of the better argument. However, it continues to strike some as little more than wishful thinking. In this new book, Ian O’Flynn examines how the concept has developed over recent decades, the family disagreements which have emerged, and the criticisms that have been levelled at it. Grappling with the familiar charge that ordinary people lack the motivation and capacity for meaningful deliberation, O’Flynn considers the example of deliberative polls and citizens’ assemblies and critically assesses how such forums can fit within a broader democratic system. He then considers the implications of deliberative democracy for multicultural and multi-ethnic societies before turning to the prospects for the most ambitious deliberative project of all: global deliberative democracy. This book will be essential reading for students and scholars of democratic theory, as well as anyone who is curious about the prospects for more rational decision-making in an age of populist passion.Trade Review"Ian O’Flynn has produced a succinct, accessible, yet thorough guide to the ever-expanding field of deliberative democracy. He takes on all the key questions that animate disputes within the field, as well as responding effectively to critics."John Dryzek, University of Canberra "This is a concise and accessible introduction to the field of deliberative democracy – in both theory and practice. It engages the reader in deliberating about all the main issues. It is full of insight. I strongly recommend the book as an indispensable overview."James Fishkin, Stanford UniversityTable of ContentsPreface and Acknowledgements Chapter 1: Deliberative Democracy Chapter 2: Deliberative Differences Chapter 3: Deliberative Mini-publics Chapter 4: Deliberative Systems Chapter 5: Pluralism and Deliberative Democracy Chapter 6: Global Deliberative Democracy? References Index

    2 in stock

    £14.24

  • Conservatism

    John Wiley and Sons Ltd Conservatism

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisConservatism is often labelled as a ‘disposition’, ‘tradition’, or even a set of knee-jerk reactions, rather than an ideology, and its suspicion of grand theorising has lent itself to this characterization. In this book, leading political theorist Edmund Neill challenges this view. He argues that conservatism is better identified as an ideology, albeit one that, rather than putting forward positive values like ‘liberty’ or ‘equality’, conceptualizes human conduct as being partially dependent on forces beyond human volition, and prioritizes the cautious management of change. He charts the evolution of conservative thought from the French Revolution to the present, examining how conservatives responded to disruptions to traditional order across the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Drawing on examples from Britain, France and the United States, Neill concludes with some reflections on the challenges (and opportunities) that contemporary populism presents for conservatism. This accomplished overview is essential reading for any student or scholar working in political theory and political philosophy, especially those with a particular interest in ideologies and conservatism.Trade Review‘This deft and intelligent examination of conservative thought combines a strong emphasis on its comparative history with an acute understanding of its conceptual flexibility. Neill applies his highly effective analysis to the diverse contexts that reveal and illuminate conservatism’s nuances and layers.’Michael Freeden, University of Oxford ‘Over the last two centuries conservatives have stood for very different things at different times. Edmund Neill does full justice to this diversity of conservatisms while convincingly demonstrating that it makes sense to analyse it as a single political tradition.’Stuart Jones, Manchester UniversityTable of ContentsChapter 1 Defining Conservatism Chapter 2 Conservatism from the French Revolution to 1848 Chapter 3 Conservatism from 1848 to the First World War Chapter 4 Conservatism in the Era of the Two World Wars Chapter 5 Conservatism from the 1960s to the Present Epilogue Notes Bibliography

    1 in stock

    £14.24

  • Politics: Why It Matters

    John Wiley and Sons Ltd Politics: Why It Matters

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisPeople so often focus on the negative aspects of politics, like greed and corruption, but without politics we would be lost. It frames everything we do, and it has the power to bring about real and positive change. Politics, Andrew Gamble reminds us, defeated slavery and secured equal rights for women and minorities. Without savvy and principled politicians and citizens willing to engage in political action, there would still be civil war in Ireland and apartheid in South Africa. Closer to home, local politicians stand up for communities and endeavour to advance the prosperity and wellbeing of their constituents. But it hasn’t always been like this, and without good politicians we could throw it all away. Right now humanity is in a race against itself, adjusting to new technologies that are destabilizing democracy and creating massive inequalities. By thinking and acting politically, Gamble argues, we can harness the imagination and enthusiasm of people everywhere to tackle these challenges and shape a better world.Trade Review"A brilliant and insightful introduction - perfect for anyone who wants to know why the study of politics is so important."—Steven Kettell, University of Warwick "This inspiring book is a must for anyone who wants to understand how politics shapes the world and why only we have the power to change the future."—Lisa Nandy MP "I am naturally excited about any book that seeks to persuade students to study politics. But in this compact volume, Andrew Gamble does so much more. Without ever losing his critical edge, he captures the high idealism, low tactics, and sheer excitement of engagement in the public arena."—Jennifer Hochschild, Harvard UniversityTable of ContentsPrefaceIntroductionChapter 1 Why bother with politics?Chapter 2 What is at stake in politics?Chapter 3 What is the point of studying politics?Chapter 4 Can politics make a better world?EndnotesFurther reading

    1 in stock

    £9.99

  • In Defence of Democracy

    John Wiley and Sons Ltd In Defence of Democracy

    2 in stock

    Book SynopsisShould Brexit or Trump cause us to doubt our faith in democracy? Are ‘the people’ too ignorant or stupid to rule? Numerous commentators are seriously arguing that the answer to these questions might be ‘yes’. In this take-no-prisoners book, Canadian-Irish author Roslyn Fuller kicks these anti-democrats where it hurts the most – the facts. Fuller shows how many academics, journalists and politicians have embraced the idea that there can be ‘too much democracy’, and deftly unravels their attempts to end majority rule, whether through limiting the franchise, pursuing Chinese ‘meritocracy’ or confining participation to random legislation panels. She shows that Trump, Brexit or whatever other political event you may have disapproved of recently aren’t doing half the damage to democracy that elite self-righteousness and corruption are. In fact, argues Fuller, there are real reasons to be optimistic. Ancient methods can be combined with modern technology to revitalize democracy and allow the people to truly rule. In Defence of Democracy is a witty and energetic contribution to the debate on the future of democracy.Trade Review‘In an era when, remarkably, the merits of democracy seem to be up for debate, it is invaluable to have so many of the arguments of the anti-democrats dispelled so comprehensively. If you've ever felt like you needed the arguments to defend the ability of the people to govern themselves, you’ll find what you need here.’Robin McAlpine, Director of Common Weal ‘In Defence of Democracy offers us a preview of what democracy is about to become: much more representative, more direct, more digital, more local and transnational. A winning concept described by this winning writer. Get it! Read it!’Bruno Kaufmann, Democracy International "a valuable guide"Los Angeles Review of Books Table of ContentsIntroduction: Why This? Why Me? Why Now? Part One: The Terrible Truth: People Aren’t All That Stupid or Evil Objection One: Democracy Can’t Work Because People are Too Racist and Sexist Objection Two: People are Too Stupid for Democracy Objection Three: There’s No Point to Democracy Because People Don’t Know What Is Good For Them Anyway Objection Four: People are Just Too Crazy for Democracy to Work To Conclude Part Two: Fixing Politics the Anti-Democrat Way Section I Assorted Libertarian, Authoritarian and Explicitly Elitist Solutions Rule by the ‘Knowledgeable’ (Jason Brennan) Rule by the Deep State (Bryan Caplan) Rule by the Market (Ilya Somin) Long Live the Party! (Jonathan Rauch and Benjamin Wittes) Rule of the Superior (Daniel Bell) Section II Sortition: The False Democrats Participation Representation and Legitimacy Politics is Conflict Mediation Corruption Conclusions On Sortition Conclusions to Part Two Part Three: A World You Might Want to Actually Live In (Fuller Democracy) Five Principles for Transformational (but Responsible…) People Power 1. Shift to Online and En Masse 2. Pay-for-Participation 3. Focused, Outcome-Oriented Deliberation (Information, Isegoria and Conflict Resolution) 4. Precarious, Informal Leadership (but Leadership all the Same) 5. Sortition in its Proper Place Why It’s Worth It 1. People want Democracy 2. Fuller Democracy Solves a lot of Anti-Democrat Objections to Democracy 3. Writing a New Social Contract Final Words: Buckle-up Buttercup – The Future is Going to be Interesting

    2 in stock

    £15.19

  • Football: The Philosophy Behind the Game

    John Wiley and Sons Ltd Football: The Philosophy Behind the Game

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisFootball is the most popular sport on the planet partly because it’s so simple to play – but as philosopher, novelist and avid fan Stephen Mumford shows, behind the straightforward rules of the game there lurks a world of intriguing complexity. Mumford considers the intellectual basis upon which football rests, guiding readers through a number of issues at the heart of the game. How can a team be greater than the sum of its individual players? What is the essential role of chance? Should we want to win at all costs? What does it mean to control space? And can true beauty be found in football? Rich with colourful examples from football’s past and present, Mumford’s book is both a love letter to football and a reflection on its enduring capacity to enthral and excite.Trade Review‘Stephen Mumford uses his considerable philosophical expertise to explain why football is the most popular sport in the world. His analysis will add much to his readers’ enjoyment of the game.’David Papineau, author of Knowing the Score: How Sport Teaches Us About Philosophy ‘The perfect gift for soccer fans new to philosophy or philosophers new to soccer – this book is a rich, multi-layered reflection on both.’Alan White, Williams College‘The game is one of the great survivors, a leviathan led by donkeys.’ The Times ‘impressively insightful... There are an awful lot of football fans out there and there’s something about the sport that connects us in enthralling ways with our deepest aesthetic, moral and existential questions. This thoroughly engaging book undoubtedly helps us to understand that something.’Times Higher Education Supplement"Mumford provides a scintillating read filled with thought-provoking ideas, drawing examples from past and present times. The author's skill in presenting the philosophical approach in a concise and consumable manner is crucial to making this book accessible."Choice

    1 in stock

    £15.58

  • Can Democracy Safeguard the Future?

    John Wiley and Sons Ltd Can Democracy Safeguard the Future?

    2 in stock

    Book SynopsisOur democracies repeatedly fail to safeguard the future. From pensions to pandemics, health and social care through to climate, biodiversity and emerging technologies, democracies have been unable to deliver robust policies for the long term. In this book, Graham Smith asks why. Exploring the drivers of short-termism, he considers ways of reshaping legislatures and constitutions and proposes strengthening independent offices whose overarching goals do not change at every election. More radically, Smith argues that forms of participatory and deliberative politics offer the most effective democratic response to the current political myopia, as well as a powerful means of protecting the interests of generations to come.Trade Review“Crystal clear and utterly persuasive, this book offers a wealth of fascinating and powerful evidence that shows how deliberative mechanisms are the key to forging a new age of intergenerational justice. Essential reading for anyone who wants to be a good ancestor.”Roman Krznaric, author of The Good Ancestor: How to Think Long Term in a Short-Term World “A careful, engaging look at the institutions we have so far devised to protect future generations that shows why some work and some do not and how we might blend together the best of different models. I didn’t know 90% of what’s in this book – and I thought I knew quite a lot.”Jane Mansbridge, Harvard UniversityTable of ContentsTable of contents:Acknowledgements Chapter 1: Failing to Deal with the Long-Term Chapter 2: Reimagining Established Institutions Chapter 3: Bringing in an Independent Voice Chapter 4: Deepening Democracy for the Long-Term Afterword: Democratic Design for Future Generations Further Reading Notes

    2 in stock

    £9.99

  • The Political Vocation of Philosophy

    John Wiley and Sons Ltd The Political Vocation of Philosophy

    2 in stock

    Book SynopsisIt is time for philosophy to return to the city. In today’s crisis-ridden world of globalised capitalism, increasingly closed in on itself, it may seem harder than ever to think of ways out. Philosophy runs the risk of becoming the handmaiden of science and of a hollowed-out democracy. Donatella Di Cesare calls on philosophy instead to return to the political fray and to the city, the global pólis, from which it was banished after the death of Socrates. Suggesting a radical existentialism and a new anarchism, Di Cesare shows that Western philosophy has been characterised by a political vocation ever since its origins in ancient Greece, and argues that the separation of philosophy from its political roots robs it of its most valuable and enlightening potential. But critique and dissent are no longer enough. Mindful of a defeated exile and an inner emigration, philosophers should return to politics and forge an alliance with the poor and the downtrodden. This passionate defence of the political relevance of philosophy and its radical potential in our globalised world will be of great interest to students and scholars of philosophy and to a wide general readership.Trade Review'Di Cesare’s limpid meditations on the tormented relations between thought and power make a passionate case for philosophy as a liminal practice looking both ways across the limits of the political. Her figure of the philosopher as the foreigner, refugee and outsider attentive to the calls of the other and speaking in the name of an anarchic justice proposes no less than a renewal of the political vocation of philosophy for the twenty-first century.'Howard Caygill, Professor of Modern European Philosophy at Kingston University, LondonTable of Contents1. The saturated Immanence of the World 2. Heraclitus, wakefulness and the original communism 3. The narcosis of light: on the night of capital 4. The polis: a calling 5. Wonder – a troubled passion 6. Between heavens and abysses 7. Socrates’s atopia 8. A political death 9. Plato – when philosophy headed into exile within the city 10. Migrants of thought 11. ‘What is philosophy?’ 12. Radical questions 13. The out-of-place of metaphysics 14. Dissent and critique 15. The twentieth century: breaks and traumas 16. After Heidegger 17. Against negotiators and normative philosophers 18. Ancilla democratiae: a dejected return 19. The poetry of clarity 20. Potent prophesies of the leap: Marx and Kierkegaard 21. The ecstasy of existence 22. For an exophilia 23. The philosophy of awakening 24. Fallen angels and rag-pickers 25. Anarchist postscript Notes Bibliography Index

    2 in stock

    £15.19

  • A Left that Dares to Speak Its Name: 34 Untimely

    John Wiley and Sons Ltd A Left that Dares to Speak Its Name: 34 Untimely

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisWith irrepressible humor, Slavoj Žižek dissects our current political and social climate, discussing everything from Jordan Peterson and sex “unicorns” to Greta Thunberg and Chairman Mao. Taking aim at his enemies on the Left, Right, and Center, he argues that contemporary society can only be properly understood from a communist standpoint. Why communism? The greater the triumph of global capitalism, the more its dangerous antagonisms multiply: climate collapse, the digital manipulation of our lives, the explosion in refugee numbers – all need a radical solution. That solution is a Left that dares to speak its name, to get its hands dirty in the real world of contemporary politics, not to sling its insults from the sidelines or to fight a culture war that is merely a fig leaf covering its political and economic failures. As the crises caused by contemporary capitalism accumulate at an alarming rate, the Left finds itself in crisis too, beset with competing ideologies and prone to populism, racism, and conspiracy theories. A Left that Dares to Speak Its Name is Žižek’s attempt to elucidate the major political issues of the day from a truly radical Leftist position. The first three parts explore the global political situation and the final part focuses on contemporary Western culture, as Žižek directs his polemic to topics such as wellness, Wikileaks, and the rights of sexbots. This wide-ranging collection of essays provides the perfect insight into the ideas of one of the most influential radical thinkers of our time.Trade Review�The most dangerous philosopher in the West.� Adam Kirsch, New Republic �Žižek leaves no social or cultural phenomenon untheorized, and is master of the counterintuitive observation.� The New Yorker Table of ContentsIntroduction: From the Communist Standpoint The Global Mess 1 200 Years After: Is Marx Alive, Dead, or a Living Dead? 2 Why Secondary Contradictions Matter: A Maoist View 3 Nomadic // Proletarians 4 Should the Left’s Answer to Rightist Populism Really be a “Me Too”? 5 When Unfreedom Itself is Experienced as Freedom 6 Only Autistic Children Can Save Us! 7 They are Both Worse! 8 A Desperate Call for (T)Reason The West… 9 Democratic Socialism and Its Discontents 10 Is Donald Trump a Frog Embracing a Bottle of Beer? 11 Better Dead than Red! 12 “There is Disorder Under Heaven, the Situation is Excellent” 13 Soyons realistes, demandons l’impossible! 14 Catalonia and the End of Europe 15 Which Idea of Europe is Worth Defending? 16 The Right to Tell the Public Bad News …And The Rest 17 It’s the Same Struggle, Dummy! 18 The Real Anti-Semites and Their Zionist Friends 19 Yes, Racism is Alive and Well! 20 What is to be Done When Our Cupola is Leaking? 21 Is China Communist or Capitalist? 22 Venezuela and the Need for New Clichés 23 Welcome to the True New World Order! 24 A True Miracle in Bosnia Ideology 25 For Active Solidarity, Against Guilt and Self-Reproach 26 Sherbsky Institute, APA 27 Welcome to the Brave New World of Consenticorns! 28 Do Sexbots have Rights? 29 Nipples, Penis, Vulva…and Maybe Shit 30 Cuaron’s Roma: The Trap of Goodness 31 Happiness? No, Thanks! 32 Assange has Only us to Help Him! Appendix 33 Is Avital Ronell Really Toxic? 34 Jordan Peterson as a Symptom…of What? Notes

    1 in stock

    £14.24

  • Aspects of the New Right-Wing Extremism

    John Wiley and Sons Ltd Aspects of the New Right-Wing Extremism

    4 in stock

    Book SynopsisOn 6 April 1967, at the invitation of the Socialist Students of Austria at the University of Vienna, Theodor W. Adorno gave a lecture which is not merely of historical interest. Against the background of the rise of the National Democratic Party of Germany, which had enjoyed remarkable electoral success in the first two years after its formation in November 1964, Adorno analysed the goals, resources and tactics of the new right-wing nationalism of this time. Contrasting it with the ‘old’ fascism of the Nazis, Adorno gave particular attention to the ways in which far-right movements elicited enthusiastic support in sections of the West German population, 20 years after the war had ended. Much has changed since then, but some elements have remained the same or resurfaced in new forms, 50 years later. Adorno’s penetrating analysis of the sources of right-wing radicalism is as relevant today as it was five decades ago. It is a prescient message to future generations who find themselves embroiled once again in a struggle against a resurgent nationalism and right-wing extremism.Trade Review"When Adorno speaks to us from beyond the grave on right-wing extremism, we should all listen."Cas Mudde, University of Georgia "Fifty years on, Theodor Adorno’s warnings of populist demagoguery remain all too relevant"Financial Times"Delivered as a lecture to a meeting of the Socialist Students of Austria, Aspects of the New Right-Wing Extremism provides one of the clearer views on the subject by the composer of notoriously recondite texts."TheBattleground.eu"[Adorno’s] 1967 lecture on the new right-wing extremism deftly encapsulates his general view that fascism was never really defeated but resides in the everyday facets of both social structure and personal conduct and must always be combated anew."The Nation

    4 in stock

    £9.49

  • Post-Democracy After the Crises

    John Wiley and Sons Ltd Post-Democracy After the Crises

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisIn Post-Democracy (Polity, 2004) Colin Crouch argued that behind the façade of strong institutions, democracy in many advanced societies was being hollowed out, its big events becoming empty rituals as power passed increasingly to circles of wealthy business elites and an ever-more isolated political class.Crouch’s provocative argument has in many ways been vindicated by recent events, but these have also highlighted some weaknesses of the original thesis and shown that the situation today is even worse. The global financial deregulation that was the jewel in the crown of wealthy elite lobbying brought us the financial crisis and helped stimulate xenophobic movements which no longer accept the priority of institutions that safeguard democracy, like the rule of law. The rise of social media has enabled a handful of very rich individuals and institutions to target vast numbers of messages at citizens, giving a false impression of debate that is really stage-managed from a small number of concealed sources. Crouch evaluates the implications of these and other developments for his original thesis, arguing that while much of his thesis remains sound, he had under-estimated the value of institutions which are vital to the support of a democratic order. He also confronts the challenge of populists who seem to echo the complaints of Post-Democracy but whose pessimistic nostalgia brings an anti-democratic brew of hatred, exclusion and violence.Table of ContentsAcknowledgements List of abbreviations used in the text Preface 1. What is post-democracy? 2. Inequality and corruption 3. The financial crisis 4. The eurocrisis 5. Politicized pessimistic nostalgia: a cure worse than the disease 6. The fate of 20th century political identities 7. Beyond post-democracy? References

    1 in stock

    £15.19

  • The Common

    John Wiley and Sons Ltd The Common

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisThis final volume in Antonio Negri’s new trilogy aims to clarify and develop the ‘common’ as a key concept of radical thought. Here the term is understood in a double sense: on the one hand, as a collective of production and consumption in which the domination of capital has been completely realized; on the other hand, as the cooperation of workers and citizens and their assertion of political power. The maturation of this duality was the sign of the limits of capitalism in our age; the common showed itself as the active force that recomposed production, society and life in a new experience of freedom. Today the promise of freedom seems undermined by the very institutions founded to uphold it, as the charters of western democracy seek to prioritize individualism. Negri advocates instead a free society founded on the premise that the good life is to be collectively ordered – in other words, a society that elevates the common. In his vision, giving political expression to those who work and produce is the only way of overturning totalitarian exploitation and of enabling every citizen to participate in the development of the city. Like its companion volumes, this new collection of essays by Negri will be a valuable resource for anyone interested in radical politics and in the key social and political struggles of our time.Table of ContentsPreface: From the public to the common I. Advances 1. State, public spending and the decrepitude of the Historic Compromise 2. Inside the crisis: symptoms of the common II. The fundamentals 3. In search of Commonwealth 4. The common as a mode of production 5. The law of the common 6. Federalism and movements of the common 7. Disrupt ownership? Common goods and the possibility of law III. Discussions 8. What are we willing to share? 9. The metaphysics of the common 10. Politics of the common, an interview 11. The common before power. An example IV. In conclusion 12. From the Commune to the common

    1 in stock

    £17.09

  • World Politics since 1989

    John Wiley and Sons Ltd World Politics since 1989

    1 in stock

    Book Synopsis1989 ushered in a new age of freedom and prosperity. Thirty years later, the golden era is over. What went wrong? How did the age of globalization – of growing connectivity, affluence, and growth – give way? Jonathan Holslag navigates through the calm seas and rip tides of global politics from the Cold War to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. He tells a story of faltering momentum and squandered opportunities that explains how the West's sources of strength were lost to rising consumerism, unbalanced trade, and half-hearted diplomatic engagement. All the while, other powers, like China and Russia, grew stronger. With his trademark verve, Holslag untangles the threads of this story to reveal that it was not so much the ambition of China, the cunning of Putin, or the greed of African strongmen that led the world into this dark place; it was the failure of the West to listen to its people, to show clear leadership, and reinvent itself, in spite of ample evidence that things were going awry.Trade Review"Jonathan Holslag's tour de force is the most comprehensive and insightful account of post-Cold War international developments that I've read in the last decade."Amitai Etzioni, author of Reclaiming Patriotism "Pacey and insightful, Jonathan's Holslag's book makes us look afresh at the last thirty years."Brendan Simms, University of Cambridge "A stimulating reinterpretation of the entire post-Cold War era."Colin Dueck, George Mason University "Important and timely"James Appathurai, Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs and Security Policy, NATO "A powerful and daring account of the last thirty years of world history, chronicling the failure of Western leadership, of neo-liberalism, of neo-imperial hubris, of the betrayal of the global South and the inexorable rise of China as a superpower. A must-read for all those seeking explanations of our contemporary predicament."Robert Gildea, University of Oxford "A balanced and most interesting work."He Baogang, Deakin University "This wonderfully written book takes the reader on a fascinating journey through the complexity of the last three decades of world politics. Jonathan Holslag connects the dots of a fragmented and scattered global landscape, offering multiple roads to understanding. Don't expect defined answers, but be ready to ask yourself questions you never thought of before. This book will help you ‘accept that things are not always black and white. The world is an overwhelming place. Nothing is evident'."Federica Mogherini, Rector of the College of Europe and Former High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy "Rich and comprehensive, Jonathan Holslag's book takes readers on a journey of discovery through the major changes in world politics over the past three decades. I will be assigning this book for my undergraduate international relations classes."Kun-Chin Lin, University of Cambridge "This is an utterly fascinating, carefully argued and lucidly drafted analysis of the current global circumstances. Holslag provides a deft, informed and multifaceted argument to explain how the highly optimistic views of the future of world politics failed to materialize after the end of the Cold War. This book, written in extremely accessible prose, will be of interest to both scholars and practitioners alike."Sumit Ganguly, Indiana University "With ease and elegance, Jonathan Holslag guides us masterfully through the last thirty years of global politics to reveal the complex political, economic, and ideological roots of the current crisis in the West. A brilliant book."Sergei A. Karaganov, National Research University Higher School of Economics, Moscow "Scrupulously non-didactic and pleasingly omnivorous in its scope."New Internationalist "Accessible and timely."The Sydney Morning Herald "A deeper investigation of the rise and fall of globalisation since the cold war"Financial Times "An excellent, and measured, single-volume account of world politics since 1989"Eurasian Geography and Economics "A book that makes a deep impression through its range and analytical sharpness."Timothy Garton Ash, University of OxfordTable of ContentsMaps, figures and table The pendulum OVERTURE 1. Progress 2. A doubtful victory 3. The new order seen from elsewhere ACT 1 (1989-2000) 4. Missed opportunities 5. Reluctance to lead 6. Making rivals rich ACT 2 (2000-2010) 7. Disregard and decadence 8. A foreign policy of recklessness 9. Globalization and the return of power politics ACT 3 (2010-2020) 10. What the hell happened? 11. Abdication 12. Fragmented and turbulent Watershed Acknowledgements Notes Further reading Index

    1 in stock

    £16.19

  • How the West Lost the Peace: The Great

    John Wiley and Sons Ltd How the West Lost the Peace: The Great

    2 in stock

    Book SynopsisWhen the Berlin Wall was stormed and the Soviet Union fell apart, the West and above all the United States looked like the sole victors of history. Three decades later, the spirit of triumph rings hollow. What went wrong? In this sequel to his award-winning history of neoliberal Europe, the renowned historian Philipp Ther searches for an answer to this question. He argues that global capitalism created many losers, preparing the ground for the rise of right-wing populists and nationalists. He shows how the promise of prosperity and freedom did not catch on sufficiently in Eastern Europe despite material progress, and how the West lost Russia and alienated Turkey. Neoliberal capitalism also left the world poorly prepared to cope with Covid-19, and the pandemic further weakened the Western hegemony of the post-1989 period, which is now brutally contested by Russia’s war against Ukraine. The double punch of the pandemic and the biggest war in Europe since 1945 has brought to a close the age of transformation that was inaugurated by the end of the Cold War. This penetrating analysis of the disarray of the post-1989 world will be of great interest to anyone who wishes to understand how we got to where we are today and the tremendous challenges we now face.Trade Review"Philipp Ther joins sound wisdom to his formidable talents as a historian in this study of Europe's alarming drift towards populism. He knows that we cannot understand politics without serious attention to economics, he understands Europe as extending from Ireland to the Pacific and beyond, and he writes beautifully. His urgently needed book is a pleasure to read, and if its subjects are often grim, the lessons Ther draws illuminate a way forward."John Connelly, University of California, Berkeley"Philipp Ther has written a sad but clear-eyed tribute to the ethics of Karl Polanyi’s The Great Transformation. His analysis of the social divisions that preceded political polarization and the spurious link between capitalism and democracy exposes the global fiasco of the West’s neoliberal triumphalism."Maria Todorova, University of Illinois"Covering disturbing trends in Hungary and Poland, COVID, Brexit, Trump and the Ukraine war, [Philipp Ther’s] observations… have a cautionary touch of Christopher Isherwood’s 'I Am a Camera' approach, coupled with accessible, detailed analysis."Sydney Morning Herald“Ther moves deftly through Europe, focusing on its key economies, to explain the domestic and international effects that neoliberalism has had in each nation. What How the West Lost Peace reveals is that the growth of the far right, and the geopolitical instability that has led to the war in Ukraine, have their origin in the reorganization of Europe’s economies following the defeat of socialist forces and the growth of neoliberal hegemony.”JacobinTable of ContentsPreface: The Great Transformation after 19891. From Neoliberalism to Antiliberalism: The Enduring Relevance of Karl Polanyi2. Lost Social and Political Equilibrium: The USA after the Cold War3. The Price of Unity: Germany’s Shock Therapy in International Comparison4. La Crisi: Italy’s Decline as a Portent for Europe5. The West, Turkey and Russia: A History of Estrangement6. Eastern Europe as a Pioneer: Polanyi’s Pendulum Swings to the Right7. Systemic Competition during the Covid-19 PandemicAfterword: A Bad End: The War against UkrainePostscript and Acknowledgements Notes

    2 in stock

    £17.09

  • International Relations

    John Wiley and Sons Ltd International Relations

    2 in stock

    Book SynopsisInternational relations emerged as a distinct academic discipline in the early twentieth century, but its philosophic foundations draw on centuries of thinking about human nature, power and authority, justice and injustice, the idea of sovereignty and the implications for relations within and between political communities. The historic sources of these ideas appear to draw largely on European or Western experiences but, as this book shows, influences have emanated from much further afield, while contemporary thought is becoming more open to insights from non-Western sources. In this fully updated and expanded fourth edition of her popular text, Stephanie Lawson retains a broad world historical and contextual approach to the central themes and theoretical perspectives in IR, while also addressing the most pressing issues facing the world today. Topics covered include the emergence of states and empires, theories ranging from classical realism and liberalism to postcolonial and green theory, twentieth-century international history, security and insecurity, global governance and world order, international political economy and the prospects for a ‘post-international’ world in an era that has seen both deepening globalization and accompanying challenges to the sovereign state, as well as the reassertion of nationalist ideas around the world. With a range of additional pedagogical features to assist learning and class discussion, this lively and accessible text is an ideal primer for beginner and intermediate students alike.Trade Review‘An immensely valuable introduction to international relations, which combines historical perspective and a comprehensive approach to theory with a keen sense of contemporary challenges. Updated in this fourth edition to include issues such as climate change and post-truth ideology, it provides readers with a sound understanding of the past, present and future of world politics.’Alex J. Bellamy, University of Queensland‘The latest edition of Stephanie Lawson’s International Relations is one of the first texts to challenge students to consider how global politics will evolve in a post-truth world. A model of clarity, the book is sure to be as popular as its predecessors.’John Ravenhill, University of WaterlooTable of ContentsLists of BoxesAbout the AuthorPreface to the Fourth EditionAcknowledgements1 Introducing International Relations 2 States in World History3 Theorizing International Relations: Methods and Traditional Approaches4 Theorizing International Relations: Critical Approaches5 International Relations in the Twentieth Century6 Security and Insecurity in the Contemporary World7 Global Governance and World Order8 International Political Economy9 Conclusion: International Relations in a Changing WorldReferences Index

    2 in stock

    £18.04

  • Getting China Wrong

    John Wiley and Sons Ltd Getting China Wrong

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisThe West's strategy of engagement with China has failed. More than three decades of trade and investment with the advanced democracies have left that country far richer and stronger than it would otherwise have been. But growth and development have not caused China's rulers to relax their grip on political power, abandon their mercantilist economic policies, or accept the rules and norms of the existing international system. To the contrary: China today is more repressive at home, more aggressive abroad, and more obviously intent on establishing itself as the world’s preponderant power than at any time since the death of Chairman Mao. What went wrong? Put simply, the democracies underestimated the resilience, resourcefulness, and ruthlessness of the Chinese Communist Party. For far too long, the United States and its allies failed to take seriously the Party's unwavering determination to crush opposition, build national power, and fulfill its ideological and geopolitical ambitions. In this timely and powerfully argued study, Aaron Friedberg identifies the assumptions underpinning engagement, describes the counterstrategy that China's Communist Party rulers devised in order to exploit the West's openness while defeating its plans, and explains what the democracies must do now if they wish to preserve their prosperity, protect their security, and defend their common values.Trade Review"Friedberg throws into sharp relief the flawed reasoning that justified the failed decades-long policy of engagement. He also clarifies those elements of China's conduct and its intellectual sources to which attention must be paid in getting China right."—Peter Berkowitz, Real Clear Politics "Getting China Wrong is a concise, readable, and compelling look at the failure of United States' engagement with China. Written with expert knowledge and experience, it never strays into hyperbole or partisanship, and stands out from comparable titles by managing to be immensely reasonable yet still packing an unequivocal punch."—Bookish Asia "As a piece of analysis, Getting China Wrong is first class. As a prescription for strategy, it is just a beginning. But it ought be read as widely as possible in Australia."—Paul Monk, The Australian "Friedberg argues in crisp, compelling prose that it got most of its calculations of Chinese behaviour just plain wrong over the past 30 years."—Rana Mitter, The Critic "...makes for chilling reading in the light of events in the Ukraine."—Bloomberg "...a compact, well-argued critique of U.S. policy."—Foreign Policy "This groundbreaking book chronicles the many misperceptions that American leaders have held about China in recent decades and subjects them to withering scrutiny ... an important milestone in redirecting American thinking about China."—James Mann, author of The China Fantasy and About Face: A History of America's Curious Relationship with China "Aaron Friedberg delivers the definitive history of America's failed strategy of 'engagement' with the Communist regime in Beijing. But Friedberg doesn't abandon his readers in a cold bath of disillusionment: he illuminates a path towards a winning strategy for America and other free nations."—Matt Pottinger, Distinguished Visiting Fellow at the Hoover Institution and former US Deputy National Security Advisor "There is simply no better assessor of China's power and its consequences for the international order than Aaron Friedberg. This book should be used as an operating manual by everyone crafting US policy on how to deal with China."—Kori Schake, Director of Foreign and Defense Policy at the American Enterprise Institute "In this careful and detailed study, Aaron Friedberg astutely explores how and why America's decades-long strategy of 'engagement' with China came asunder -- and he provides a clear and sophisticated policy roadmap for revamping US and Western policies in order to deal with a more assertive and potentially threatening China."—David Shambaugh, George Washington University and author of China's Leaders: From Mao to Now "A telling account of how and why policy-makers, academics, and business embraced a form of engagement with China that proved to be a sincerely optimistic but hopelessly wrong gamble. A trenchant and accessible foray into the geopolitics of our time and our future."—George Magnus, Research Associate, China Centre, University of Oxford and SOAS "I Getting China Wrong, Aaron Friedberg lays out a balanced and practical approach for managing relations with China. Most compellingly, he argues that liberal democracies must begin by taking their own side in this rivalry, making clear the stark differences of a future defined by the Chinese Communist Party. This book is essential reading for anyone seeking to navigate a multipolar world order."—Admiral John Richardson, USN (Ret.), 31st Chief of Naval Operations "Friedberg's Getting China Wrong nails down half a century of mistaken American assumptions about China's future path. This essential non-partisan primer highlights the increasingly bold strategy of the Chinese Communist Party to defeat Western expectations."—François Godement, Senior Advisor for Asia at Institut Montaigne, Paris "A decade ago, Aaron Friedberg courted unpopularity with A Contest for Supremacy, a book anticipating the imminent failure of engaging China at any price. His warnings were demonstrably worth heeding. Now in Getting China Wrong he makes the case that the United States and other democracies still underestimate the struggle ahead. But this is no counsel of despair: instead, Friedberg articulates a multi-layered action agenda, arguing that the best form of defense could well involve a willingness to impose costs."—Rory Medcalf, Head of the National Security College, Australian National University, and author of Indo-Pacific Empire "A splendid book with deep insights into the nature of the Chinese Communist Party dictatorship and an urgent message about the need to uphold and expand the liberal international order in Asia."—Nobu Kanehara, former Deputy National Security Advisor to PM Abe of Japan "The go-to explainer of the Chinese government and the challenge it poses to Western democracies ... Getting China Wrong makes a critical contribution to the debates over the nature of the CCP."—Law and Liberty "Aaron Friedberg's Getting China Wrong examines the past few decades to understand how we got here. It is grim but essential reading."—Free Beacon "A[n] immensely important look at China, Friedberg's book is an excellent analysis of what has got us into another Cold War."—Sun News AustinTable of ContentsList of Illustrations Acknowledgements Introduction 1. The Origins of Engagement 2. Rationales and Expectations 3. Politics: "The Party Leads Everything" 4. Economics: "A bird in a cage" 5. Strategy: "The great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation" 6. Getting China Right Notes

    1 in stock

    £16.19

  • Graphic Arts Books The Soul of Man Under Socialism

    2 in stock

    Book SynopsisOscar Wilde presents a libertarian socialist view of the economic disparities caused by capitalism, that lead to futile acts of charity instead of definitive solutions. Wilde encourages an overhaul of the structures that allow such inequalities to exist. The Soul of Man Under Socialism is an insightful look into Wilde’s personal and political beliefs. Within the essay he emphasizes individualism over group think, using Jesus Christ as a prime example. He also offers a detailed critique of capitalist societies that revel in charity, instead of eliminating its need. Poverty cannot be fought with kindness; it requires genuine compassion backed by policy. Wilde’s perspective was heavily influenced by the writings of Peter Kropotkin, a Russian anarchist and socialist. In The Soul of Man Under Socialism, Wilde invokes powerful ideas that call for accountability and drastic change. It’s a raw declaration of his contemporary anarchist views.With an eye-catching new cover, and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of The Soul of Man Under Socialism is both modern and readable.

    2 in stock

    £6.06

  • Manchester University Press Understanding Governance in Contemporary Japan:

    Out of stock

    Book SynopsisThis book explores the transformation of the Japanese state in response to the challenges of governance by focusing on two case studies: ICT regulation and antimonopoly regulation after the 1980s, which experienced a disjuncture and significant transformation within the period with approaches embracing competition. In so doing, it reveals the transformation of the state and governance in a Japanese context and presents itself as an example of the new governance school addressing the state, its transformation, and the governance of the political arena in Japanese politics and beyond, setting out a challenge to the established body of pluralist and rational choice literature in Japanese politics. With its comprehensive review and analysis of the theory and development of Japan’s contemporary politics, this book is suitable as a textbook for undergraduate and postgraduate courses as well as a guidebook for practitioners engaging in policies and businesses relating to Japan.Trade Review'To the still small library of books on Japanese public policy in English, Masahiro Mogaki adds a well-focused study of the Japanese state and its core executive in Understanding Governance in Contemporary Japan.'Hajime Isozaki, LSE Review of Books'Masahiro Mogaki wants to bring the state back in to the study of Japanese politics. His book refreshingly runs counter to the dominant trends in the subfield that favor the study of electoral politics and civil society. Mogaki turns the debate back to governing elites, state structures, and the rich minutiae of the policymaking process.'Steven K. Vogel, The Journal of Japanese Studies 'Exploring the transformation of the Japanese state since the 1980s, this book contributes to studies of the regulatory state and its governance. Among the many strengths of this book, identifying changes in power relations between multiple actors within the state, and engaging in a wide range of interviews to discover the institutional development of the ICT sector and the JFTC are impressive feats, and noteworthy to anyone who studies public policy, governance theories, and Japan.'Euisuok Han, Pacific Affairs -- .Table of ContentsPart I: Conceptualising the Japanese state and governance 1 Introduction: transformation, governance and the state in the Japanese context2 The change of governance and regulation Part II: Evolving regulation and governance 3 The evolving core executive in response to burgeoning ICT 4 Regulatory state transformation with an unusual approach 5 Piecemeal transformation: anti-monopoly regulation 6 Breaking the egg shell Part III: The nature of Japanese governance with the transformation of the state 7 The regulatory transformation and the core executive 8 Governance in Japan: the implication of the researchAppendix 1Appendix 2ReferencesIndex

    Out of stock

    £19.50

  • Africa 2.0: Inside a Continent’s Communications

    Manchester University Press Africa 2.0: Inside a Continent’s Communications

    2 in stock

    Book SynopsisAfrica 2.0 provides an important history of how two technologies – mobile calling and internet – were made available to millions of sub-Saharan Africans, and the impact they have had on their lives. The book deals with the political challenges of liberalisation and privatisation that needed to be in place in order for these technologies to be built. It analyses how the mobile phone fundamentally changed communications in sub-Saharan Africa and the ways Africans have made these technologies part of their lives, opening up a very different future. The book offers a critical examination of the impact these technologies have had on development practices, and the key role development actors played in accelerating regulatory reform, fibre roll-out and mobile money. Southwood shows how corruption in the industry is a prism through which patronage relationships in government can be understood, and argues that the arrival of a start-up ecosystem in the region has the potential to change this. A vital overview of the changes of the last three decades, Africa 2.0 examines the transformative effects of mobile and internet technologies, and the very different future they have opened out for sub-Saharan Africa.Table of ContentsIntroductionPart I: Technology diffusion: the spread of mobile calling and internetPrologue (1986–2004)1 Mobile voice calling booms (1993–2004)2 Bandwidth as the digital economy’s fuel: getting sub-Saharan Africa connected (1991–2015)3 Cheaper mobile internet and low-cost smartphones come together with apps sub-Saharan Africans want to use (2005–18)Part II: Technology influences: uses, behaviours and abuses4 Mobile money: from transferring cash by SMS to a digital payments ecosystem (2000–20)5 Sub-Saharan Africans start to live the digital life (2000–20)6 Sprinkling on the magic dust: digital’s impact on development (1982–2020)7 The ugly underbelly of the communications revolutions: corruption, cronyism, regulation and government (1999–2020)Part III: Taking the long view: start-up innovation and complex behaviour change8 Sub-Saharan African start-ups: getting beyond the hype to address deep market challenges (1995–2020)9 Doing complexity: making sense of what has happened over thirty-five yearsAppendix A: GlossaryAppendix B: List of those interviewedSelect bibliographyIndex

    2 in stock

    £23.74

  • People Power: Popular Sovereignty from

    Manchester University Press People Power: Popular Sovereignty from

    2 in stock

    Book SynopsisPeople power explores the history of the theory and practice of popular power. Western thinking about politics has two fundamental features: 1) popular power in practice is problematic and 2) nothing confers political legitimacy except popular sovereignty. This book explains how we got to our current default position, in which rule of, for and by the people is simultaneously a practical problem and a received truth of politics. The book asks readers to think about how appreciating that history shapes the way we think about the people’s power in the present. Drawn from the disciplines of history and political theory, the contributors to this volume engage in a mutually informing conversation about popular power. They conclude that the problems that first gave rise to popular sovereignty remain simultaneously compelling, unresolved and worthy of further attention.Table of Contents1 People power – Christopher Barker and Robert G. Ingram 2 Machiavelli’s ‘moments’ – Catherine Zuckert 3 Death and taxes in Machiavelli’s Florentine state – Danielle Charette4 Taming the Parliament: John Locke on legislative limits, prerogative and popular sovereignty – Nathan Pinkoski 5 Montesquieu and the theory of limited sovereignty – William Selinger 6 The revolution for society: rethinking popular sovereignty, American independence and the Age of the Democratic Revolution – James M. Vaughn 7 Filippo Mazzei’s Atlantic revolutions: a new dawn for popular sovereignty or populism? – Anna Vincenzi 8 Popular sovereignty as populism in the early American republic – Joshua A. Lynn 9 Like a god on Earth: popular sovereignty in Tocqueville’s Democracy in America – Heather Pangle Wilford10 Plural voting and popular government in Victorian Britain – Greg Conti11 Modern representation and the popular will – Susan Shell and Paul T. Wilford12 Sovereignty, God and the historians – Robert G. Ingram 13 Conclusion: what is popular sovereignty? – Mark BlitzIndex

    2 in stock

    £67.50

  • The Civil Condition in World Politics: Beyond

    Bristol University Press The Civil Condition in World Politics: Beyond

    2 in stock

    Book SynopsisBringing together an international team of contributors, this volume draws on international political theory and intellectual history to rethink the problem of a pluralistic world order. Inspired by the work of international political theorist Nicholas Rengger, the book focuses on three main areas of Rengger’s contribution to the political theory of international relations: his Augustine-inspired idea of an ‘Anti-Pelagian Imagination’; his Oakeshottian argument for a pluralist ‘conversation of mankind’; and his ruminations on war as the uncivil condition in world politics. Through a critical engagement with his work, the book illuminates the promises and limitations of civility as a sceptical, non-utopian, anti-perfectionist approach to theorizing world order that transcends both realist pessimism and liberal utopianism.Table of Contents1. Rengger’s anti-Pelagianism: international political theory as civil conversation – Vassilios Paipais Part 1: Anti-Pelagianism and the Civil Condition in World Politics 2. Revisiting Rengger’s Anti-Pelagianism – Noel O’Sullivan and Sophia Dingli 3. Poetics and Politics: Rengger, Weber, and the Virtuosi of Religion – John-Harmen Valk 4. ‘Keep your mind in hell, and despair not’: Gillian Rose’s anti-Pelagianism – Kate Schick Part 2: Challenging the Anti-Pelagian Imagination 5. ‘A Dangerous Place to Be’? Nicholas J. Rengger, the English School, and International Disorder – Ian Hall 6. Rengger’s War on Teleocracy – Chris Brown 7. Conservatism, Civility, and the Challenges of International Political Theory – Michael Williams Part 3: The Uncivil Condition in Word Politics 8. Rengger the Reluctant Rule Follower – Anthony Lang Jr. 9. Rengger and the ‘Business of War’ – Caroline Kennedy-Pipe 10. Just War as Tradition in a Civil International Order – Valerie Morkevičius Afterword 11. Rengger, History, and the Future of International Relations – Richard Whatmore

    2 in stock

    £20.99

  • The Essence of Interstate Leadership

    Bristol University Press The Essence of Interstate Leadership

    2 in stock

    Book SynopsisBringing together eminent International Relations (IR) scholars from China and the West, this book examines moral realism from a range of different perspectives. Through its analyses, it verifies the robustness of moral realism in IR theory.

    2 in stock

    £26.59

  • The Case for Democracy in the COVID-19 Pandemic

    Sage Publications Ltd The Case for Democracy in the COVID-19 Pandemic

    2 in stock

    Book SynopsisOne moment life was normal, the next, governments around the world were imposing radical lockdowns of their populations. But why were decision-makers so readily ignoring centuries of hard-won civil freedoms? Where was the discussion of ethics and human rights? Why were we so easily controlled and why were our controllers so willing to do it? In The Case for Democracy, David Seedhouse explores the psychological biases; distorted risk perceptions; frenetic journalism; the disputed science; the narrow focus of ′experts′; value judgements dressed up as truths; propaganda; the invisibility of ethics; and the alarming irrelevance of inclusive democracy that have been features of governmental responses to the covid-19 pandemic. Seedhouse argues that the chaotic governmental response to Coronavirus, with no attempt to include the public, is the perfect argument for an extensive, participatory democracy; a democracy that demonstrates practical decision making by listening to everyone’s knowledge and expertise. Now is the time for us to solve our problems together.Table of ContentsINTRODUCTION SEARCHING FOR BALANCE IMBALANCED DUALITIES CERTAINTY AND UNCERTAINTY THE PSYCHOLOGY GUIDED BY THE SCIENCE? STEPS TOWARDS A WIDER FOCUS PUZZLING CHARTS THE SWEDISH EXAMPLE ANIMALS THE ETHICS THE CASE FOR DEMOCRACY CONCLUSION POSTSCRIPT

    2 in stock

    £53.37

  • Qualitative Research in Politics and International Relations

    Sage Publications Ltd Qualitative Research in Politics and International Relations

    2 in stock

    Book SynopsisThis groundbreaking textbook is the essential introduction to qualitative research for politics and international relations. Presented in a refreshingly accessible manner, this text applies a practical approach to help you learn by doing and will equip you with the tools to getresearching. Embrace a pedagogical approach that seamlessly integrates theoretical insights with hands-on guidance, empowering you to navigate the complexities of qualitative research with confidence and clarity.Key Benefits Include: Practical Approach: bid farewell to abstract learning with practical tools and exercises that instil intuition and proficiency. Step-by-step support for students grappling with the logistical intricacies of research design, data collection, and analysis. Close Links to the Disciplines: immerse yourself in the latest seminal research and learn how to select robust qualitative designs for your research questions. Demystify Theory and Methodology: this text addresses the perennial challenge of aligning theory with methodology, providing a cohesive framework for qualitative research. Expert Guidance: for educators seeking to incorporate this invaluable resource into their curriculum, a complementary online teaching guidebook offers guidance and suggestions on how to truly engage with the material and enrich the learning experience for your students.An essential companion for undergraduate students navigating qualitative methods modules to postgraduate students and researchers shaping their research projects.Corina Lacatus is a Senior Lecturer in Global Governance at the School of Politics and International Relations, Queen Mary University of London.

    2 in stock

    £32.29

  • We Need To Talk About Xi: What we need to know

    Ebury Publishing We Need To Talk About Xi: What we need to know

    3 in stock

    Book SynopsisMeet the most powerful leader in the world. Chinese premier Xi Jinping graces our television screens and news headlines on a regular basis. But even after a decade in power, he remains shrouded in mystery.From growing up with a father purged in Mao's Cultural Revolution and his mission to eradicate poverty, to his persecution of Uyghur Muslims and paranoia about being likened to Winnie-the-Pooh, Xi Jinping is a man obscured by caricatures. In this short, essential primer, historian and writer Michael Dillon unveils the character of Xi Jinping - arguably the world's most powerful man - to truly understand his grip on China, what he wants and how the West gets him wrong.But this is not just the story of Xi; this is the story of today's largest economic powerhouse, which dives into the crux of the issue - what does Xi's leadership of China mean for the rest of the world, and what will he do next?Trade ReviewMichael Dillon uses his decades of rich and varied experience as a scholar in and about China to decipher the leadership of current leader Xi Jinping. With succinct, informative chapters on Xi's early life, political career, his style of leadership and its guiding ideas, Dillon gives an authoritative, sure-footed interpretation of who Xi is, what he stands for and what he wants. While never shying away from contentious issues like Xinjiang, Hong Kong and human rights under Xi, Dillon presents a balanced picture, acknowledging both the problems and the strengths of a man often labelled the most powerful figure in the world today. -- Kerry Brown, author of 'Xi: A Study in Power'

    3 in stock

    £10.44

  • Putin's World: Russia Against the West and with

    Little, Brown & Company Putin's World: Russia Against the West and with

    2 in stock

    Book SynopsisHow did Russia manage to emerge resurgent on the world stage and play a weak hand so effectively? Is it because Putin is a brilliant strategist? Or has Russia stepped into a vacuum created by the West's distraction with its own domestic problems and US ambivalence about whether it still wants to act as a superpower? Putin's World examines the country's turbulent past, how it has influenced Putin, the Russians' understanding of their position on the global stage and their future ambitions -- and their conviction that the West has tried to deny them a seat at the table of great powers since the USSR collapsed.This book looks at Russia's key relationships -- its downward spiral with the United States, Europe, and NATO; its ties to China, Japan, the Middle East; and with its neighbors, particularly the fraught relationship with Ukraine. Putin's World will help Americans understand how and why the post-Cold War era has given way to a new, more dangerous world, one in which Russia poses a challenge to the United States in every corner of the globe -- and one in which Russia has become a toxic and divisive subject in US politics.

    2 in stock

    £14.24

  • In Trump's Shadow: The Battle for 2024 and the

    Little, Brown & Company In Trump's Shadow: The Battle for 2024 and the

    2 in stock

    Book SynopsisWith Trump's four years in the White House now in the rearview, an unprecedented period in American political history is concluded. The transition, however, has set off a mad scramble for control of a Republican Party that for so long has reflected the domineering image of one man-and might even still in the years ahead. Who emerges from the warring factions and familial rivalries that proliferated and quietly festered during Trump's presidency could determine the fate of the GOP for a generation, and the first hint of what's to come begins with the 2024 campaign to crown the first Republican nominee, and national party leader, of the post-Trump era.With Trump's exit, a singular era in American political history has ended-and the Republican Party, whose identity had for so long been centered around one man, will be forced to redefine itself for the future.Featuring profiles of everyone from Mike Pence, Mike Pompeo, and Nikki Haley to Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz, and those in the Trump family, IN TRUMP'S SHADOW tells the story of a GOP under-and after-the forty-fifth president, and all of those jousting for influence over the party's direction in the wake of Donald Trump.

    2 in stock

    £18.75

  • The Administration of Fear

    Autonomedia The Administration of Fear

    1 in stock

    Book Synopsis

    1 in stock

    £11.69

  • John Stuart Mill – Articles, Columns, Reviews and

    St Augustine's Press John Stuart Mill – Articles, Columns, Reviews and

    2 in stock

    Book SynopsisThis is the second volume, following the well-received edition of Mill’s writing essential to understanding the liberal tradition. His commentary on a full spectrum of issues gives further insight into the strengths and vulnerabilities of liberal democratic theory in practice. Rare and difficult to locate material is here brought to attention and made available. The contribution of Mill’s most authoritative biographer, Nicholas Capaldi, is a singular and unmatched highlight. The tenor of St. Augustine’s Press volumed on Mill is distinct in its intention to place his work in the framework of political philosophy and the conversation of the viability of liberalism as a tradition of thought.

    2 in stock

    £35.10

  • Truth Has a Power of Its Own: Conversations About

    The New Press Truth Has a Power of Its Own: Conversations About

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisAmerican history told from the bottom up by Howard Zinn himself—and the perfect all-ages introduction to his eye-opening viewpoint, published on Zinn’s hundredth birthdayTruth Has a Power of Its Own is an engrossing collection of conversations with the late Howard Zinn and “an eloquently hopeful introduction for those who haven’t yet encountered Zinn’s work” (Booklist). Here is an unvarnished, yet ultimately optimistic, tour of American history—told by someone who was often an active participant in it. Viewed through the lens of Zinn’s own life as a soldier, historian, and activist and using his paradigm-shifting A People’s History of the United States as a point of departure, these conversations explore the American Revolution, the Civil War, the labor battles of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, U.S. imperialism from the Indian Wars to the War on Terrorism, World Wars I and II, the Cold War, and the fight for equality and immigrant rights—all from an unapologetically radical standpoint. Longtime admirers and a new generation of readers alike will be fascinated to learn about Zinn’s thought processes, rationale, motivations, and approach to his now-iconic historical work. Zinn’s humane (and often humorous) voice—along with his keen moral vision—shine through every one of these lively and thought-provoking conversations. Battles over the telling of our history still rage across the country, and there’s no better person to tell it than Howard Zinn. Trade Review“No historian—and few public figures—have ever made radical politics as deliriously and deliciously attractive as Howard Zinn. These conversations with Ray Suarez resurrect Howard for a new generation, including those youth who are fed up with politics as usual. Buy it for the young rabble rouser in your life. As Howard liked to say, ‘We must know our history not only to have knowledge of the past, but to change the future.’”—Dave Zirin, author of A People’s History of Sports in the United States and sports editor, The Nation “In this short, rich volume, Zinn connects the dots from the abolitionists to Reconstruction to the Civil Rights Movement, leads the reader to question whether there is any ‘good war,’ and encourages us all to see civil disobedience as important as voting in a democracy. It is a guidebook for organizers.”—Deborah Menkart, executive director of Teaching for Change and co-director of the Zinn Education Project “Truth Has a Power of Its Own is a virtual epilogue to Zinn’s classic work, A People’s History of the United States, and it eloquently shows that Zinn’s mission was not to demonstrate our exceptionalism or our superiority. Instead, he urges us to look squarely at our stained past for the glimmers of human decency and courage which so often have welled up among the ordinary people historians too often ignore.”—Frances Fox Piven, distinguished professor of political science emerita, The Graduate Center, City University of New York “The conversations in Truth Has a Power of Its Own sing with Howard Zinn’s wisdom, humanity, and wit. Zinn explains how despite unspeakable brutality and exploitation throughout U.S. history, we find hope rising from the social movements that have sought equality and justice. This is a marvelous introduction to the history—a people’s history—of our country.”—Bill Bigelow, curriculum editor, Rethinking Schools, and co-director of the Zinn Education Project

    1 in stock

    £12.34

  • American Intelligence: Small-Town News and

    University of Massachusetts Press American Intelligence: Small-Town News and

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisThe rapid expansion of the newspaper business in the first decade of the American republic had crucial consequences for cultural, commercial, and political life in the early United States, as the nation went from having dozens of weekly newspapers to hundreds. Before organized newsrooms and bureaus came on the scene, these fledgling publications were filled with content copied from other newspapers as well as letters, poems, religious tracts, and ribald anecdotes submitted by readers.Taking up the New Hampshire newspaper industry as its case study, American Intelligence unpacks the ways in which an unprecedented quantity of printed material was gathered, distributed, marketed, and consumed, as well as the strong influence that it had on the shaping of the American political imagination. Ben P. Lafferty also considers the lives of the printers themselves and asks why so many men chose to pursue such a fraught and turbulent profession. This snapshot resonates with the contemporary media-saturated and politically chaotic age.

    1 in stock

    £23.70

  • The Civic Education Crisis: How We Got Here, What

    Republic Book Publishers The Civic Education Crisis: How We Got Here, What

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisThe Civic Education Crisis: How We Got Here, What We Must Do is a call to action, an effort to save our republic through better civic education. America faces a crisis in civic education that imperils the long-term health of the country. Too many Americans—especially young people—do not have the knowledge of history and principles necessary to sustain the republic. In what has become a vicious cycle, young people are not learning about their country—its history and how it works—and they grow up disengaged and distrustful. Too many young people do not understand the principles of self-government on which America was founded. And they do not understand America’s history as the story of the struggle to live up to those principles of freedom articulated in documents like the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. Instead, too many believe that America’s story is essentially one of oppression, not freedom—injustice, not hope. In the first half of the book, authors Jeff Sikkenga and David Davenport diagnose the problem while proposing solutions in the second half. Truly, America faces a civics crisis and action is needed now to reverse the trend.

    1 in stock

    £17.56

  • Quercus Publishing Politics in Minutes

    2 in stock

    Book SynopsisQuick, accessible, compact guide to understanding key political concepts. Contents include: Liberty, Justice, Equality, Human rights, Social contract, Democracy, Monarchy, Anarchism, Capitalism, Socialism, Nationalism and Globalisation.

    2 in stock

    £10.44

  • Populism: A Beginner's Guide

    Oneworld Publications Populism: A Beginner's Guide

    Book SynopsisEvery day we hear that the rise of populism threatens democracy around the world, but is this really true? Did populism cause the current crisis, or is it the other way around? To understand the state of our politics right now, we must get to grips with this contested concept. Simon Tormey breaks down the defining aspects of populism, what sets it apart from other styles of politics, and what – if anything – we ought to do about it.Trade Review‘In this provocative, well-written new book, Tormey argues that populism can be both a threat to democratic values and process, but equally a means for the expansion of democracy… Essential reading for those seeking to understand one of the most important, but often misunderstood, political phenomena of the twenty-first century.’ -- Duncan McDonnell, Professor of Politics, Griffith University‘An important dissenting voice in today’s chorus of populist critics, Tormey casts populism in a new light, inviting readers to consider whether it might not be a threat to democracy but rather something democracy needs for its renewal.’ -- Lisa Disch, Professor of Political Science, University of Michigan‘The world is changing. Democracy is under threat. Simon Tormey’s Populism: A Beginner’s Guide provides a wonderfully sophisticated yet beautifully accessible guide to these changing times.’ -- Matthew Flinders, Professor of Politics, University of Sheffield, and President of the Political Studies Association of the United Kingdom‘While we all think we know what populism means, if we dig a little deeper we find ourselves lost in definitional problems and ambiguities… Tormey navigates through these…with admirable clarity and perception, drawing upon historical and contemporary examples of populist movements, and exploring key factors that explain their rise.’ -- Saul Newman, Professor of Political Philosophy, Flinders University

    £9.49

  • Hegemony Now: How Big Tech and Wall Street Won

    Verso Books Hegemony Now: How Big Tech and Wall Street Won

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisToday power is in the hands of Wall Street and Silicon Valley. How do we understand this transformation in power? And what can we do about it?We cannot change anything until we have a better understanding of how power works, who holds it, and why that matters. Through upgrading the concept of hegemony-understanding the importance of passive consent; the complexity of political interests; and the structural force of technology-Jeremy Gilbert and Alex Williams offer us an updated theory of power for the twenty-first century.Hegemony Now explores how these forces came to control our world. The authors show how they have shaped the direction of politics and government as well as the neoliberal economy to benefit their own interests. However, this dominance is under threat. Following the 2008 financial crisis, a new order emerged in which the digital platform is the central new technology of both production and power. This offers new opportunities for counter hegemonic strategies to win back power. Hegemony Now outlines a dynamic socialist strategy for the twenty-first century.Trade ReviewA landmark piece of work combining theoretical rigour and innovation with a magisterial mapping of the landscape of contemporary power. Gilbert and Williams have produced an essential guide to socialist strategy today. -- Nick SrnicekGilbert and Williams offer practical and hopeful strategies for changing the "directions of travel" of the contemporary conjuncture - especially in the U.S. and U.K. But what makes Hegemony Now uniquely impressive is how seamlessly their politics emerges from their sophisticated analysis of the conditions and actualities of the present. Grounded in rich theorizing and a strong commitment to historical specificity, they pull post-Marxism back from the brink by taking up the under-theorized concept of material interests. Mapping the relations among economics, politics, and culture, they refuse to give in to the seductions of simplicity, choosing instead to make visible some of the complexities and contradictions that have produced a distinct set of interconnected crises. This is a book that crosses the divide between political economy and cultural studies, but it is a must-read for anyone trying to make sense of the apparent chaos of contemporary life and the possibilities for a better future. -- Lawrence GrossbergIn engaging and accessible prose, Gilbert and Williams provide an astute political analysis of our current conjuncture...an important provocation for the left. -- Michael HardtIn the process of clarifying and updating the often misunderstood (and occasionally maligned) concept of hegemony, Gilbert and Williams also provide us with a valuable analysis of the "long 1990s": an account of its constitution, a diagnosis of its crisis and a map for its overcoming. Anyone committed to the latter must engage with this book. -- Rodrigo Nunes, author of Neither Vertical Nor Horizontal: A Theory of Political OrganisationThe task for socialists is to live without illusions without becoming disillusioned. Gilbert and Williams have written a timely contribution in how the left acts strategically - learning from the successes and failures of the last decade. -- Aaron Bastani[Gilbert and Williams] have done a brilliant job stripping away much of the complexity that makes post and neo-Marxist language so difficult to engage with for ordinary mortals ... this book repays close attention. -- Gavin O'Toole * Morning Star *

    1 in stock

    £16.14

  • Law in a Time of Crisis

    Profile Books Ltd Law in a Time of Crisis

    2 in stock

    Book Synopsis'Thoughtful, stimulating and even entertaining ... Lord Sumption's opinion is always worth listening to, even - or especially - if one disagrees with it.' Daily Telegraph 'Time spent on Law in a Time of Crisis is time spent in the company of a brilliant mind considering interesting things' The Times Brexit, the independence referendum, the pandemic: the UK is a country in crisis. And, in crises, we turn to the law to set the boundaries of what the government can and should do. However, in a country with no written constitution, what sounds like a simple proposition is in fact anything but. Based on his 2019 Reith lectures, former Supreme Court Judge Jonathan Sumption asks: what are the limits of law in politics? Is not having a constitution a hindrance or help in times of crisis? From referenda to the rise of nationalisms, Law in a Time of Crisis exposes the uses and abuses of legal intervention in British crises - past, present, and potential.Trade Reviewtime spent on Law in a Time of Crisis is time spent in the company of a brilliant mind considering interesting things ... any person of broadly liberal instinct will find much in this enjoyable book to agree with and much that can improve one's way of thinking and of making an argument -- Daniel Finkelstein * the Times *Sumption has always been more than just a lawyer. For many years he was the brilliant QC and then Supreme Court justice who somehow found time on the side to write a definitive, multivolume history of the Hundred Years War: a true Renaissance man -- David Runciman * Guardian *Thoughtful, stimulating and even entertaining ... Lord Sumption's opinion is always worth listening to, even - or especially - if one disagrees with it. -- Robert Tombs * Telegraph *Praise for Trials of the State: Brisk, entertaining, brilliant ... one of the great lawyers of our time -- Bryan Appleyard * Sunday Times *Magisterial -- Edward Fennell * The Times *Elegant and crisply argued (Best Politics and Current Affairs Books of 2019) -- Robbie Millen * The Times *The book is hard going, but rewarding. Sumption ... leads his readers persuasively to positions which, when they stop to think, they may not find comfortable -- Michael Fry * The National (Scotland) *Sumption examines the increasingly difficult relationship between government and the courts... a former Supreme Court judge,[he] seems rather gloomy about democracy's future, but has produced a very readable analysis (The best current affairs and politics books of 2019) -- Roland White * Sunday Times *

    2 in stock

    £10.44

  • Disobey!: A Philosophy of Resistance

    Verso Books Disobey!: A Philosophy of Resistance

    2 in stock

    Book SynopsisThe world is out of joint, so much so that disobeying should be an urgent act for everyone. In this provocative essay, Frédéric Gros explores the roots of political obedience, social conformity, economic subjection, respect for authorities, constitutional consensus. Examining the various styles of obedience provides tools to study, invent and induce new forms of civic disobedience and lyrical protest. Nothing can be taken for granted: neither supposed certainties nor social conventions, economic injustice or moral conviction. Thinking philosophically requires us to never accept truths and generalities that seem obvious-it restores a sense of political responsibility. At a time when the decisions of experts are presented as the result of icy statistics and anonymous calculations, disobeying becomes an assertion of humanity. To philosophise is to disobey. This book is a call for critical democracy and ethical resistance.Trade ReviewIn this personal reflection of remarkable clarity and intelligence, the author shows above all how the decision between obedience and disobedience ultimately remains a personal matter. * Le Monde *The philosopher Frédéric Gros analyses the wellsprings of our passivity. Citizens submit out of fear, social conformity, or pleasure, but also to escape their own responsibility. Yet disobedience is not incompatible with democracy. * Libération *This specialist in political philosophy dissects the mechanisms of obedience. * Télérama *Inspiring! * Elle *A masterly political and ethical reflection. This essay examines the inner condition of the political and social subject, asking why it is hard to disobey even when the world imposes desperate conditions of life. * Les Inrockuptibles *A call to resist conformity and tyranny. -- Alain Finkielkraut * Philosophie magazine *

    2 in stock

    £14.24

  • Prophets of Deceit: A Study of the Techniques of

    Verso Books Prophets of Deceit: A Study of the Techniques of

    4 in stock

    Book SynopsisA classic book that analyzes and defines media appeals specific to American pro-fascist and anti-Semite agitators of the 1940s, such as the application of psychosocial manipulation for political ends. The book details psychological deceits that idealogues or authoritarians commonly used. The techniques are grouped under the headings "Discontent", "The Opponent", "The Movement" and "The Leader". The authors demonstrate repetitive patterns commonly utilized, such as turning unfocused social discontent towards a targeted enemy. The agitator positions himself as a unifying presence: he is the ideal, the only leader capable of freeing his audience from the perceived enemy. Yet, as the authors demonstrate, he is a shallow person who creates social or racial disharmony, thereby reinforcing that his leadership is needed. The authors believed fascist tendencies in America were at an early stage in the 1940s, but warned a time might come when Americans could and would be "susceptible to ... [the] psychological manipulation" of a rabble rouser. A book once again relevant in the Trump era, as made clear by Corey Robin's new introduction.Trade ReviewBeyond all doubt the most illuminating study of the techniques and the propaganda of the native American Fascist which has yet appeared. -- Cary McWilliams * New York Times *To judge from this first volume, the Studies in Prejudice Series is likely to make many significant contributions to our knowledge of the dynamics of intergroup relations, social movements, and societal change as well as of prejudice as such. Löwenthal and Guterman especially deserve praise for a wise and significant volume. -- ALFRED MCCLUNG LEE * PUBLIC OPINION QUARTERLY *

    4 in stock

    £16.14

  • The Return of the Political

    Verso Books The Return of the Political

    2 in stock

    Book SynopsisChantal Mouffe is one of the most influential political theorists at work today. Her work has influenced political parties across Europe and continues to inform the direction of left politics. In this work, Mouffe argues that liberal democracy misunderstands the problems of ethnic, religious and nationalist conflicts because of its inadequate conception of politics.Trade ReviewEvocative and challenging. * Radical Philosophy *An indispensable read. * Harvard Educational Review *Her work evinces an impressive political prescience...In a rare feat for a political theorist, Mouffe's texts have inspired left parties and politicians, like Podemos and Jean-Luc Melénchon, to frame their projects as a democratic struggle against unrepresentative elites. -- Thea Riofrancos * n+1 *With eerie accuracy, Mouffe anticipated today's political world. -- Andy Beckett * The Guardian *

    2 in stock

    £9.49

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