Social and political philosophy Books

Book SynopsisA SUNDAY TIMES BOOK OF THE YEARA crucial new guide to one of the most urgent political phenomena of our time: the rise of national populismAcross the West, there is a rising tide of people who feel excluded, alienated from mainstream politics, and increasingly hostile towards minorities, immigrants and neo-liberal economics. Many of these voters are turning to national populist movements, which have begun to change the face of Western liberal democracy, from the United States to France, Austria to the UK.This radical turn, we are told, is a last howl of rage from an aging electorate on the verge of extinction. Their leaders are fascistic and their politics anti-democratic; their existence a side-show to liberal democracy. But this version of events, as Roger Eatwell and Matthew Goodwin show, could not be further from the truth.Written by two of the foremost experts on fascism and the rise of national populism, this lucid and deeply-reseaTrade ReviewCompelling ... Eatwell and Goodwin do a good job of demolishing lazy stereotypes about Trump and Brexit supporters being almost exclusively white and old ... Measured and insightful * Sunday Telegraph *A fascinating new study ... the authors analyse the long-term demographic and socioeconomic trends shaping our age of upheaval. The attraction of this book lies in its cool, dispassionate tone. The authors intend to explain and inform rather than polemicise -- Jason Cowley * The Sunday Times *Intelligent, counterintuitive ... [ranging] far beyond Brexit and Britain ... they put a parochial debate in a much bigger context * Economist *Valuable ... A finely organised, lucid explanation of the elements presently constituting the most dynamic political movements in Europe and the US -- John Lloyd * Financial Times *A useful corrective... it demolishes the myth that young people aren't attracted to the populist right -- Sarah Baxter * The Sunday Times *A reality check to any clinging to the hope that populism is a passing political squall ... Goodwin is one of the few academics to be vindicated by the political trends of the past few years. With a forensic grasp of the detail, Eatwell and Goodwin show how commentators have succumbed to "stereotypes that correspond with their outlook" rather than evidence-based conclusions -- Asa Bennett * Telegraph *Convincing, powerful and very definitely worth a read -- Robert Colvile, Director of CPS Think TankAn important and stimulating book .. well written, well argued, highly accessible to the lay reader, and mercifully free of political science jargon ... it leaves room for optimism for the future of our country -- Roger Liddle * Progress *An invaluable guide to the new politics of revolt ... Eatwell and Goodwin draw attention to the historic problem that liberalism has faced in accepting democracy. They give us the theoretical framework to understand national populism's rise ... Compelling -- Jon Holbrook * Spiked *Informative and often compelling, providing clarity around a number of key debates within political science and political theory [...] Usefully, they provide copious evidence that rightwing populism has been a long time in the making. -- Will Davies * Guardian *Unlike other authors, they do not write to warn and condemn, but to understand the movement ... Populist leaders are confrontational, mendacious and ruthless -- but those who follow them need to have their fears, resentments and beliefs addressed * Reuters *Superb ... one of the best of the post-Trump analyses -- Tim StanleyA provocative book, well worth reading -- Matthew Partridge * Moneyweek *Eatwell and Goodwin rightly point out that the UK's political and economic system is, for many people, broken -- Gavin Esler * The National *Readers may feel threatened by a rising tide of populism, but what, exactly, is it? National Populism offers penetrating and emancipating answers * The Times Literary Supplement, Books of the Year 2019 *

Read more less

Book SynopsisAnthropologist Kristen Ghodsee looks at pioneering experiments in communal living to present a rousing argument for rethinking what we mean by home.A must-read' THOMAS PIKETTYJust wonderful' ANGELA SAINIThroughout history and around the world today, forward-thinking communities have pioneered alternative ways of living together, sharing property and raising children. In Everyday Utopia, anthropologist Kristen Ghodsee explores what we can learn from these experiments from the ancient Greek commune founded by Pythagoras to the trail-blazing feminists of the French Revolution, from the cohousing movement in contemporary Denmark to the flourishing ecovillages of Colombia and Portugal. She shows why utopian thinking is essential to making a fairer world and that many of the best ways of getting there begin at home.This warm, intelligent and lucid book takes us on a deep dive into how people have created better systems for living

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe author of The More Beautiful World Our Hearts Know Is Possible explores the history and potential future of civilization, tracing the converging crises of our age to the illusion of the separate self Our disconnection from one another and the natural world has mislaid the foundations of science, religion, money, technology, economics, medicine, and education as we know them. It has fired our near-pathological pursuit of technological Utopias even as we push ourselves and our planet to the brink of collapse. Fortunately, an Age of Reunion is emerging out of the birth pangs of an earth in crisis. Our journey of separation hasn''t been a terrible mistake but an evolutionary process and an adventure in self-discovery.Even in our darkest hour, Eisenstein sees the possibility of a more beautiful world—not through the extension of millennia-old methods of management and control but by fundamentally reimagining ourselves and our systems. We must shift away from our Babelian efforts to build ever-higher towers to heaven and instead turn out attention to creating a new kind of civilization—one designed for beauty rather than height.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

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

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis"This is a superb new translation that is remarkably accurate to Plato's very difficult Greek, yet clear and highly readable. The notes are more helpful than those in any other available translation of the Laws since they contain both the information needed by the beginning student as well as analytical notes that include references to the secondary literature for the more advanced reader. For either the beginner or the scholar, this should be the preferred translation."—Christopher Bobonich, Clarence Irving Lewis Professor of Philosophy, Stanford University

Read more less

Book SynopsisSUNDAY TIMES NUMBER ONE BESTSELLERThe most important book of the year' Daily MailThe brilliant and provocative new book from one of the world's foremost political writersThe anti-Western revisionists have been out in force in recent years. It is high time that we revise them in turn'In The War on the West, international bestselling author Douglas Murray asks: if the history of humankind is one of slavery, conquest, prejudice, genocide and exploitation, why are only Western nations taking the blame for it? It's become perfectly acceptable to celebrate the contributions of non-Western cultures, but discussing their flaws and crimes is called hate speech. What's more it has become acceptable to discuss the flaws and crimes of Western culture, but celebrating their contributions is also called hate speech. Some of this is a much-needed reckoning; however, some is part of a larger international attack on reason, democracy, science, progress and the citizens of the West by dishonest scholars, hatemongers, hostile nations and human-rights abusers hoping to distract from their ongoing villainy.In The War on the West, Douglas Murray shows the ways in which many well-meaning people have been lured into polarisation by lies, and shows how far the world's most crucial political debates have been hijacked across Europe and America. Propelled by an incisive deconstruction of inconsistent arguments and hypocritical activism, The War on the West is an essential and urgent polemic that cements Murray's status as one of the world's foremost political writers.Trade Review‘Murray shows not just how every aspect of western society has come under the iconoclasts’ gaze – from mathematics to music, Kew Gardens to Jane Austen – but how flimsy their case often is.’ – The Sunday Times ‘Murray writes with wonderful lucidity about the many fronts on which the West is waging war against itself. And he writes with a sense of urgency.’ – Real Clear Politics ‘Well executed… a spirited defence against the Left's assault on the Western tradition.’ – The Daily Telegraph ‘The War on the West is a monumental book leading to several pivotal realisations.’ – Lotus Eaters ‘Meticulous, measured… The War on the West is Douglas Murray’s latest blast against loony left wokery.’ – The Spectator Praise for Douglas Murray and The Madness of Crowds ‘Whether one agrees with him or not, Douglas Murray is one of the most important public intellectuals today.’ – Bernard-Henry Levy ‘This is an author who specialises in expressing what everyone sort of knows already and is afraid to say…Well argued, well supported, and well observed.’ – Lionel Shriver ‘Simply brilliant. Reading it to the end, I felt as though I’d just drawn my first full breath in years. At a moment of collective madness, there is nothing more refreshing – or indeed, provocative – than sanity.’ – Sam Harris ‘His latest book is beyond brilliant and should be read, must be read, by everyone. He mercilessly exposes the hypocrisy and embarrassingly blatant contradictions that run rife through the current ‘woke’ vouge.’ – Richard Dawkins ‘Douglas Murray fights the good fight for freedom of speech… A truthful look at today’s most divisive issues.’ – Jordan B. Peterson ‘Extraordinary. Magnificent. Searing. Necessary. I salute il miglior fabbro. ‘And whether they listen or fail to listen… they will know that the prophet has been among them’ (Ezekiel 2:5)’ – Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks

Read more less

Book SynopsisTrade Review“A thought-provoking and bleak worldview.”—Gideon Rachmann, Financial Times (A Financial Times Best Book of 2018) “Provocative and timely.”—John Gray, Literary Review “This book produces a much needed theoretical contribution which apart from taking to new heights the liberal/realist debate also brings to the forefront the influence of nationalism. [. . .] a very comprehensive and instructive text” —Arshid Iqbal Dar, Asian Affairs “Among post-Cold War treatises, The Tragedy of Great Power Politics remains unsurpassed in its command of the historical record. Mearsheimer's most recent book, The Great Delusion, poses more urgent questions about the present.”—Thomas Meaney, London Review of Books Winner of the the James Madison Award, sponsored by the American Political Science Association "This is the best of the many books that seek to explain how and why American foreign policy has gone so disastrously wrong. Mearsheimer hits the sweet spot where theory meets the chaos of today's world."—Stephen Kinzer, author of The Brothers: John Foster Dulles, Allen Dulles, and Their Secret World War "John Mearsheimer’s The Great Delusion is policy-relevant scholarship at its best: a summation of a leading scholar’s accumulated thinking about international relations theory and American foreign policy."—Christopher Layne, University Distinguished Professor of International Affairs, Texas A&M University "Liberal states have many virtues, but The Great Delusion explains, with rigorous logic and admirable clarity, why their efforts to spread their values are usually doomed to fail. Both liberal crusaders and unrepentant realists have much to learn from this compelling book.”—Stephen Walt, Robert and Renee Belfer Professor of International Affairs, Harvard Kennedy School "Idealists as well as realists need to read this systematic tour de force. Even if you don't agree, it will discipline your own thinking."—Robert D. Kaplan, author of The Return of Marco Polo's World: War, Strategy, and American Interests in the Twenty-First Century

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisDiscover Wollstonecraft’s classic feminist text in an abridged, digestible form.WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY ZOE WILLIAMS The term feminism did not yet exist when Mary Wollstonecraft wrote this book, but it was the first great piece of feminist writing. In these pages you will find the essence of her argument – for the education of women and for an increased female contribution to society. Her work made the first ripples of what would later become the tidal wave of the women’s rights movement. Rationalist but revolutionary, Wollstonecraft changed the world for women.Vintage Feminism: classic feminist texts in short formTrade ReviewMary Wollstonecraft's words ring as true today - and are as little heeded by government - as when she wrote them, 200 years ago, in her A Vindication of the Rights of Woman * Guardian *The first pebble in the later avalanche of the women's rights movement -- Melvyn Bragg * Guardian *The first great piece of feminist writing * Independent *Changed the world for generations of women to come * Sunday Times *A book that was bold in its time and is now considered the notable forerunner of the women's movement * New York Times *

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe fact that communism did not prevail does not mean we are still in capitalism. Capitalist relations are undergoing systemic transformation and becoming something that might even be worse.

Read more less

Book SynopsisSam Harris is the author of five New York Times bestsellers. His books include The End of Faith, Letter to a Christian Nation, The Moral Landscape, Free Will, Lying, and Waking Up. The End of Faith won the 2005 PEN/Martha Albrand Award for Nonfiction. His work has been published in more than twenty languages. Harris has written for the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, the Economist, The Times, the Boston Globe, the Atlantic, Annals of Neurology, and other outlets. He received a degree in philosophy from Stanford University and a PhD in neuroscience from UCLA. Please visit his website at SamHarris.org.Trade ReviewI don’t have many can’t miss podcasts, but Making Sense is right at the top of that short list. Sam Harris and his varied and fascinating guests generate light but not heat. The choir is neither preached to nor pointlessly provoked. I have never finished a single episode without having learned something and being given pause for real thought. * Stephen Fry *Even in casual discussion, Sam is intelligent, educated, honest, considered and brave. He’s really not cut out for the Internet. * Ricky Gervais *Sam Harris is the most intellectually courageous man I know, not afraid to speak truths out in the open where others keep those very same thoughts buried, fearful of the modish thought police. His literate intelligence and fluency with words has transferred from the written to the spoken medium, and in his podcast he brings out the best in his guests, including those with whom he disagrees. * Richard Dawkins, author of The God Delusion *Do yourself a favor, broaden your perspectives and listen to the Making Sense podcast. Whatever your politics, you will find ideas and points of views you've never considered before, in fields you don't know, from neuroscience to computer science to culture. * Anne Applebaum, author of Gulag *Of all the podcasts available, the one nobody should miss is Making Sense. Every episode is stimulating. In an era when everyone seems to have lost their reason, here is one of the few places where reason remains safe. * Douglas Murray, author of The Strange Death of Europe and The Madness of Crowds *

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe powerful, beautiful and chilling sequel to the bestselling Straw Dogs''By nature volatile and discordant, the human animal looks to silence for relief from being itself while other creatures enjoy silence as their birthright''Why do humans seek meaning to life? How do our imaginations leap into worlds so far beyond our actual reality? In this chilling and beautiful sequel to Straw Dogs, John Gray explores how we decorate our existence with countless fictions, twisting and turning to avoid acknowledging that we too are animals. Drawing on an extraordinary array of writers who are mesmerized by extremity, from Ballard to Conrad, Gray makes us re-imagine our place in the world.Trade ReviewThe Silence of Animals is a new kind of book from Gray, a sort of poetic reverie on the human state, on the state, that is, of the human animal ... He blends lyricism with wisdom, humour with admonition, nay-saying with affirmation, making in the process a marvellous statement of what it is to be both an animal and a human in the strange, terrifying and exquisite world into which we straw dogs find ourselves thrown -- John Banville * Guardian *Interesting, original and memorable ... The Silence of Animals is a beautifully written book, the product of a strongly questioning mind. It is effectively an anthology with detailed commentary, setting out one rich and suggestive episode after another -- Philip Hensher * Spectator *A secular prophet, sensationally truth-telling, clear-sighted and unperturbed by the illusions under which the rest of us labour ... what's more unexpected is how beautifully the unbearable quality of that desperation is evoked -- Shahidha Bari * Times Higher Education *Full of richness ... a pleasure to read -- Jane Shilling * Daily Telegraph *He takes down utopians of various stripes and then starts wiggling the dentist's drill in the liberal molar ... In Gray's book, it's humanity that is the problem: we need to get over ourselves -- Sam Leith * Sunday Times *For all its dark thrills, Gray's aria of negativity is intended to prepare the reader for a revelation. "Nothingness," he writes, "may be our most precious possession" -- Talitha Stevenson * Evening Standard *

Read more less

Book SynopsisA magisterial, one-volume history of political thought from Herodotus to the present, Ancient Athens to modern democracy - from author and professor Alan RyanThis is a book about the answers that historians, philosophers, theologians, practising politicians and would-be revolutionaries have given to one question: how should human beings best govern themselves? Almost every modern government claims to be democratic; but is democracy really the best way of organising our political life? Can we manage our own affairs at all? Should we even try? In the west, do we actually live in democracies? In this extraordinary book Alan Ryan engages with the great thinkers of the past to show us how vividly their ideas speak to us in today''s uncertain world.ALAN RYAN was born in London in 1940 and taught for many years at Oxford, where he was a Fellow of New College and Reader in Politics. He was Professor of Politics at Princeton from 1988 to 1996, when he reTrade Review[A] magnificent piece of work, clear (even when the ideas he's exploring are obscure) and engaging (even when the theory is forbidding) ... It's a remarkable experience -- Jeremy Waldron * New York Review of Books *A brave and clever book ... crammed with smart observations and wise advice -- John Keane * Financial Times *Concise, lucid ... despite covering huge intellectual terrain, On Politics is a delight both when it explores detail and also when it draws conclusions of a broader perspective -- Justin Champion * BBC History Magazine *

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis is a translation of Aristotle's text, attempting to provide the reader with an understanding of Aristotle's argument. An introductory essay situates "Politics" in Aristotle's thought, and further information provides the historical background and analytical assistance with particular passages.Trade Review. . . this is an accurate translation which is well-presented and written in reasonably natural English. It makes a valuable contribution to our understanding of the Politics. . . . of the complete translations I have seen, I would regard this one as first choice for Greekless students at the postgraduate and more advanced undergraduate levels. For these students accuracy is of prime importance, and they should be able to make good use of the introduction and other supporting material that Reeve offers. I would also recommend this version to anyone lacking Greek who wants to do serious scholarly work on the Politics. --R. F. Stalley, in PolisThis is an admirable translation, meticulous in its attention to Aristotle's Greek and judicious in its phrasing and choice of terms. It should prove invaluable to beginning students and scholars alike. --Richard Kraut, Northwestern UniversityThe beautifully crafted English of Reeve's translation is as crisp and lucid as Aristotle's Greek. One is constantly impressed with Reeve's instinct for the right word in rendering the rich vocabulary of Aristotle's thoughts about politics and for his ability to capture the subtleties of Aristotelian syntax. Highly recommended. --David Keyt, University of Washington

Read more less

Book SynopsisA #1 New York Times and Sunday Times bestsellerThe long-awaited sequel to 12 RULES FOR LIFE, which has sold over 10 million copies around the worldIn 12 Rules for Life, acclaimed public thinker and clinical psychologist Jordan B. Peterson offered an antidote to the chaos in our lives: eternal truths applied to modern anxieties. His insights have helped millions of readers and resonated powerfully around the world. Now in this much-anticipated sequel, Peterson goes further, showing that part of life''s meaning comes from reaching out into the domain beyond what we know, and adapting to an ever-transforming world. While an excess of chaos threatens us with uncertainty, an excess of order leads to a lack of curiosity and creative vitality. Beyond Order therefore calls on us to balance the two fundamental principles of reality - order and chaos - and reveals the profound meaning that can be found on the path that divides them.In times of instability and suffering, Peterson reminds us that there are sources of strength on which we can all draw: insights borrowed from psychology, philosophy, and humanity''s greatest myths and stories. Drawing on the hard-won truths of ancient wisdom, as well as deeply personal lessons from his own life and clinical practice, Peterson offers twelve new principles to guide readers towards a more courageous, truthful and meaningful life.Trade ReviewThe advice in Beyond Order reflects some new and painful awareness of mortality. But it was always Peterson's intimate, self-revealing style that made his life advice so powerful, so energising, and so hard to reduce to politics * Telegraph *A sui generis kind of personal trainer for the soul.... It's a good thing that there's space on the self-help shelves for a book as bracingly pessimistic as this one... Peterson offers an invaluable reminder that we're finite and inherently imperfect -- Oliver Burkeman * Guardian (Book of the Week) *Life-changingly inspirational * The Times *Full of sensible, humane advice, and shows he is still very much on top... The book is a validation of his own role; as he observes, being able to articulate what many people instinctively feel but can't articulate is a valuable role for a public intellectual -- Melanie McDonagh * Evening Standard *In telling us that life is suffering (as all major religions do) and that the goal is to find meaning rather than happiness, he does have something to say. ... wisdom combined with good advice. Peterson is at his best when telling stories of his clinical practice - he comes across as an empathetic non-judgmental listener -- Suzanne Moore * Telegraph *More trenchant life advice from the bestselling author of 12 Rules for Life... bound to be a bestseller * The Times *Reliably thought-provoking, often engrossing ... Peterson has a sharp eye for the vagaries of human nature, and he can be a compelling storyteller, especially when narrating his own experiences and those he has observed from life. There is a fair amount of wisdom in Beyond Order, of the kind that used to be called common sense -- Jenny McCartney * UnHerd *Part quest, part adventure, part lecture and part polemic... There's masses of passion, masses of wisdom and a deep, deep yearning for us all to seek the beauty, truth and meaning Peterson has sometimes glimpsed and is desperate for us to find. He has had tens of thousands of letters from people who say he has helped them to find it. How many writers can say they have done that? -- Christina Patterson * Sunday Times *[Peterson is] enlightening as a clinical psychologist... Peterson's rules are an attempt to locate people within society, to acknowledge the systems and structures that have long existed and, instead of seeking to tear them down, encourage his readers to find their most functional position within them -- Andrew Anthony * Observer *Beyond Order showcases Peterson's extraordinary gift for storytelling, as well as for extrapolating complex psychological themes and deriving lessons and meaning from them in ways lay readers can understand... A delight to read... Peterson is a world class communicator... Beyond Order is a compelling and ultimately life-affirming read for anyone willing to challenge their own ideas and face up to the untapped potential in their lives -- Greg Jameson * Entertainment Focus *Gratitude, he says, is "something in which you can discover part of the antidote to the abyss and the darkness". As I read this last line, I found myself saying "amen". And I realised what Jordan Peterson really is. He has suffered more than most of us. He has seen the abyss. And he has emerged from it not a top public intellectual but a highly driven, intelligent, complex and deservedly successful preacher -- Lucy Kellaway * Financial Times *[Beyond Order] has psychological value and if you want homespun common sense that is mixed with the wisdom of the ages then this is the book for you. The 12 new rules are clearly laid out with a mix of literature, mythology, philosophy, religion and psychology used to support the significance of each... It's worth reading to equip you to live a more purposeful and a more meaningful life -- Stella O’Malley * Irish Independent *'With Beyond Order, Jordan Peterson has given us an astonishingly illuminating look at the human condition. Rule by rule, he digs into the cornerstones of our psyche and culture as he seeks to explain why we behave the way we do' -- Hannah Gal * Quillette *Peterson is a deep thinker with tremendous powers of articulation and a captivating sense of wonder. A master storyteller, he draws on a multitude of sources, including his personal life, clinical practice and long marriage to enlighten readers about the fundamentals of human behavior and our civilization. Beyond Order is a call for action and self-improvement. It is a mind-blowing journey where the lessons learnt are lessons for life * The Jerusalem Post *

Read more less

Book SynopsisTrade Review"A Choice Outstanding Academic Title of the Year""Beautifully written and a delight to read. . . . Garcia’s book is a fascinating provocation for contemporary feminism that deserves a broad readership."---Ellie Anderson, Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews"Garcia works diligently to refute the myth of the ‘eternal feminine,’ or that women are submissive by nature." * Kirkus Reviews *"[A] good book to include in your studies of lived experiences shaped around the patriarchy."---Gabby Cisneros, Porchlight

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe first step on the road to change is to imagine possibility.Imagine A Country offers visions of a new future from an astonishing array of Scottish voices, from comedians to economists, writers to musicians. Edited, curated and introduced by bestselling author Val McDermid and geographer Jo Sharp, it is a collection of ideas, dreams and ambitions, aiming to inspire change, hope and imagination. Featuring:Ali Smith, Phill Jupitus, A.L. Kennedy, Alan Cumming, Kerry Hudson, Greg Hemphill, Carol Ann Duffy, Chris Brookmyre, Alison Watt, Alasdair Gray, Leila Aboulela, Ian Rankin, Selina Hales, Sanjeev Kohli, Jackie Kay, Damian Barr, Elaine C. Smith, Abir Mukherjee, Anne Glover, Alan Bissett, Louise Welsh, Jo Clifford, Ricky Ross, Trishna Singh, Cameron McNeish, Alexander McCall Smith, Carla Jenkins, Don Paterson, and many more . . .Trade ReviewAn ambitious, thought-provoking, diverse collection of imaginings. I laughed, I cried -- WILL DEANA fascinating and rich collection * * The National * *Thoughtful . . . idealistic and interesting * * Scotsman * *

Read more less

Book SynopsisHelen Hester is Professor of Gender, Technology and Cultural Politics at the University of West London, UK. She is the author of After Work: A History of the Home and the Fight for Free Time (2023, with Nick Srnicek), Xenofeminism (2018) and Beyond Explicit: Pornography and the Displacement of Sex (2014).Will Stronge is Co-Director of the Autonomy Institute, an independent research organisation focusing on issues relating to the future of work, welfare and climate. He is the co-author of Overtime: Why We Need a Shorter Working Week (2021) and the editor of Georges Bataille and Contemporary Thought (Bloomsbury, 2017).

Read more less

Book SynopsisNot being racist is not enough. We have to be antiracist. *THE GLOBAL MILLION-COPY BESTSELLER - NOW REVISED AND UPDATED*In HOW TO BE AN ANTIRACIST Ibram X. Kendi, one of the world's most influential scholars on racism, demolishes the idea of a post-racial society, punctures the myths and taboos that cloud our understanding of racism and presents a radically new approach to tackling it.He shows how everyone is, at times, complicit in maintaining the structure of racism though we rarely realise it, and gives us the tools to identify and change those behaviours.Uncompromising but essential, HOW TO BE AN ANTIRACIST sparked a new conversation about being antiracist around the world, showing that until we become part of the solution, we can only be part of the problem.'Transformative and revolutionary' ROBIN DIANGELO, author of White Fragility'So vital' IJEOMA OLUO, author of So You Want to Talk About Race'It feels like a light switch being flicked on' OWEN JONESTrade ReviewCould hardly be more relevant ... it feels like a light switch being flicked on -- Owen JonesTransformative and revolutionary ... offers us a necessary and critical way forward -- Robin DiAngelo, author of White FragilityThe most courageous book to date on the problem of race in the Western mind * New York Times *Vital... Whether you're an institution ... or an individual in moral paralysis, dumbfounded by the febrile emotions now at large ... you are not alone; hope is on its way -- Colin Grant * Observer *Shocking and provocative … he uses his personal story to make his arguments so skilfully that the book is both a memoir and a strident call to arms * Irish Times *An electrifying combination of ethics, history, law and science, bringing it all together with an engaging personal narrative … an essential work for anyone who wants to go beyond an awareness of racism to the next step * The Voice *One of the US's most respected scholars of race and history... Kendi's argument is brilliantly simple ... His honesty ... is one of the most powerful elements in this compelling book -- Afua Hirsch * Guardian *Gives us the tools to make changes in our own lives and society at large. A must-read -- June Sarpong, author of DiversifyMakes clear how we all must engage in the essential soul-searching to understand our own racism and the personal action required to become antiracist -- Lord Herman Ouseley, former Chair of the Commission for Racial Equality and of Kick It OutThis is no guidebook to getting woke ... Never wavering, Kendi methodically examines racism through numerous lenses: power, biology, ethnicity, body, culture, and so forth. This unsparing honesty helps readers, both white and people of colour, navigate this difficult intellectual territory. Essential * Kirkus *So vital. As a society, we need to start treating antiracism as action, not emotion - and Kendi is helping us do that -- Ijeoma Oluo, author of So You Want to Talk About RaceNo less than a road map for social change through a remarkable, personal and deeply touching journey. If you take the business of fighting oppression seriously and want to make a difference, this is something you need to read -- Leslie Thomas, QCOne of the pre-eminent intellectuals on race -- Owen JonesGroundbreaking, brilliant, fearless -- David Olusoga (on Stamped from the Beginning) * Observer *You should read it for its arguments about what racism is. Nor should you dodge it on the basis that you knew all this already – like me, you almost certainly didn't -- David Aaronovitch (on Stamped from the Beginning) * The Times *Lucid, accessible, unyielding. Kendi’s most important insight might help rethink anti-racist activism -- Sadiah Qureshi (on Stamped from the Beginning) * New Statesman *Everyone should have a copy of this important, poignant and timely book -- Christofere Fila * Amnest International UK *A work of immense moral authority, brilliantly told, it's deeply humane, revolutionary, essential -- Thomas Penn * History Today *An incredible book -- Gina Rubel * Techregister *

Read more less

Book SynopsisAccessing the huge selection of critical theory can be an intimidating experience. This acclaimed dictionary is an invaluable introduction to the theories and theorists in the field and will prove an authoritative resource for all students.Trade Review'extremely good...Bravo!' Professor Jonathan Culler 'This is an unusual instance of an academic reference book that I do believe doubles quite effectively as a textbook for students and I would recommend it unreservedly to anyone with an interest in theoretical matters, or just in the history of ideas.' Dr Duncan Wu, University of Cambridge

Read more less

Book SynopsisContrary to predictions that it would become increasingly redundant in a globalizing world, citizenship is back with a vengeance. The Oxford Handbook of Citizenship brings together leading experts in law, philosophy, political science, economics, sociology, and geography to provide a multidisciplinary, comparative discussion of different dimensions of citizenship: as legal status and political membership; as rights and obligations; as identity and belonging; as civic virtues and practices of engagement; and as a discourse of political and social equality or responsibility for a common good. The contributors engage with some of the oldest normative and substantive quandaries in the literature, dilemmas that have renewed salience in today''s political climate. As well as setting an agenda for future theoretical and empirical explorations, this Handbook explores the state of citizenship today in an accessible and engaging manner that will appeal to a wide academic and non-academic audience. Chapters highlight variations in citizenship regimes practiced in different countries, from immigrant states to ''non-western'' contexts, from settler societies to newly independent states, attentive to both migrants and those who never cross an international border. Topics include the ''selling'' of citizenship, multilevel citizenship, in-between statuses, citizenship laws, post-colonial citizenship, the impact of technological change on citizenship, and other cutting-edge issues. This Handbook is the major reference work for those engaged with citizenship from a legal, political, and cultural perspective. Written by the most knowledgeable senior and emerging scholars in their fields, this comprehensive volume offers state-of-the-art analyses of the main challenges and prospects of citizenship in today''s world of increased migration and globalization. Special emphasis is put on the question of whether inclusive and egalitarian citizenship can provide political legitimacy in a turbulent world of exploding social inequality and resurgent populism.Trade ReviewThe definitive source on a critical concept in political and social life. Innovative in its conception and authoritative in its execution. * J.H.H. Weiler, NYU School of Law *This is an invaluable Handbook. No other single volume achieves the theoretical acuity, historical depth, legal grounding, and sociological analysis of citizenship that this book manages to achieve. It is clear, wide ranging, and admirably un-parochial in the range of its references. By focusing on a wide range of citizenship claims, from those of dominant groups seeking to exclude to marginalized groups struggling for legal recognition, the Handbook enlarges our sense of the moral stakes and political struggles at the heart of citizenship. * Pratap Bhanu Mehta, Centre for Policy Research *The diversity of disciplinary perspectives and the combination of both theoretical and empirical approaches … sets The Oxford Handbook of Citizenship apart from other comparable volumes. * Timothy Jacob-Owens, European Journal of Legal Studies *An excellent starting point for the study of some of the main challenges and prospects informing citizenship in today's world. * Zakaria Sajir, Ethnic and Racial Studies *A robust, modern guideline to induce creative and pragmatic discussions about some of the most pressing issues we currently face. * Global Citizenship Review *Table of ContentsPart I Opening Pages 1: Ayelet Shachar, Rainer Bauböck, Irene Bloemraad, and Maarten Vink: Introduction Part II Approaches and Perspectives 2: Ryan Balot: Revisiting the Classical Ideal of Citizenship 3: Alexander Diener: Re-Scaling the Geography of Citizenship 4: Rainer Bauböck: Political Membership and Democratic Boundaries 5: Iseult Honohan: Liberal and Republican Conceptions of Citizenship 6: Chaim Gans: Citizenship and Nationhood 7: David FitzGerald: The History of Racialized Citizenship 8: Leti Volpp: Feminist, Sexual, and Queer Citizenship 9: Kamal Sadiq: Postcolonial Citizenship 10: Don DeVoretz and Nahikari Irastorza: Economic Theories of Citizenship Ascention 11: Maarten Vink: Comparing Citizenship Regimes Part III Membership and Rights 12: David Owen: Citizenship and Human Rights 13: Daniel Weinstock: Citizenship and Cultural Diversity 14: Jo Shaw: Citizenship and the Franchise 15: Linda Bosniak: Status Non-Citizens 16: Liav Orgad: Naturalization 17: Matthew Gibney: Denationalization Part IV Context and Practice 18: Christian Joppke: Citizenship in Immigrant States 19: Oxana Shevel: Citizenship and State Transition 20: Erin Chung: Citizenship in Non-Western Contexts 21: Kirsty Gover: Indigenous Citizenship in Settler States 22: Bryan S. Turner: Secular and Religious Citizenship 23: Engin Isin: Performative Citizenship 24: Irene Bloemraad: Does Citizenship Matter? Part V Membership in the State and Beyond 25: Neil Walker: The Place of Territory in Citizenship 26: Michael Collyer: Diasporas and Transnational Citizenship 27: Joel Trachtman: Fragmentation of Citizenship Governance 28: Peter Spiro: Multiple Citizenship 29: Willem Maas: Multilevel Citizenship 30: Francesca Strumia: Supranational Citizenship 31: Kok-Chor Tan: Cosmopolitan Citizenship Part VI Tomorrow's Challenges 32: Cathryn Costello: On Refugeehood and Citizenship 33: Noora Lori: Statelessness, "In-Between" Statuses, and Precarious Citizenship 34: Costica Dumbrava: Citizenship and Technology 35: Ayelet Shachar: Citizenship for Sale? 36: Rogers Smith: Citizenship and Membership Duties Toward Quasi-Citizens 37: Will Kymlicka and Sue Donaldson: Inclusive Citizenship Beyond the Capacity Context

Read more less

Book SynopsisHolly Lawford-Smith argues that gender is not something to be embraced and celebrated, but a system of oppression which should be rejected. She introduces gender-critical feminism, explaining what it means to conceive of gender as norms and to be critical of gender on the basis of that understanding.Trade ReviewNowhere does Lawford-Smith pretend to be writing a disinterested history; she is engaged in frank polemic. The final section of the book, "A Gender-Critical Manifesto" (and a brief "Afterword," pp. 199-208), enumerates and advocates for a socially progressive woman's movement truly centered on women. * Kathryn L. Lynch, Society *Lawford-Smith's book is a useful addition. * LISTENER *Table of ContentsPreface 1: Introduction Part I: What Is Gender-Critical Feminism? 2: Gender-Critical Feminism's Radical Roots 3: Gender-Critical Feminism 4: The Sex Industry 5: Trans/Gender 6: Why is Gender-Critical Feminism So Vilified? Part II: Hard Questions For Gender-critical Feminism 7: Is Gender-Critical Feminism Intersectional? 8: Is Gender-Critical Feminism Feasible? 9: Is Gender-Critical Feminism Liberal? Coda 10: A Gender-Critical Manifesto

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn this powerful collection of interviews, Noam Chomsky exposes the problems of our world today, as we stand in this period of monumental change, preparing for a more hopeful tomorrow.''For the left, elections are a brief interlude in a life of real politics, a moment to ask whether it''s worth taking time off to vote . . . Then back to work. The work will be to move forward to construct the better world that is within reach.''He sheds light into the phenomenon of right-wing populism, and exposes the catastrophic nature and impact of authoritarian policies on people, the environment and the planet as a whole. He captures the dynamics of the brutal class warfare launched by the masters of capital to maintain and even enhance the features of a dog-eat-dog society. And he celebrates the recent unprecedented mobilizations of millions of people internationally against neoliberal capitalism, racism and police violence.We stand at a precipice and we must fight to pull the world back from it.Trade ReviewThe Precipice is a vehement discussion of how American politics have changed, particularly over the past forty years * Foreword Reviews *

Read more less

Book SynopsisAlthough many of Edmund Burke''s speeches and writings contain prominent economic dimensions, his economic thought seldom receives the attention it warrants. Commerce and Manners in Edmund Burke''s Political Economy stands as the most comprehensive study to date of this fascinating subject. In addition to providing rigorous textual analysis, Collins unearths previously unpublished manuscripts and employs empirical data to paint a rich historical and theoretical context for Burke''s economic beliefs. Collins integrates Burke''s reflections on trade, taxation, and revenue within his understanding of the limits of reason and his broader conception of empire. Such reflections demonstrate the ways that commerce, if properly managed, could be an instrument for both public prosperity and imperial prestige. More importantly, Commerce and Manners in Edmund Burke''s Political Economy raises timely ethical questions about capitalism and its limits. In Burke''s judgment, civilizations cannot endurTrade Review'Gregory Collins elegantly demonstrates that Edmund Burke, like his great contemporary Adam Smith, understood that commerce, properly conducted, can make individuals and communities not only better off, but better overall. Burke, like Smith, understood that political and economic thinking should intersect in a theory of moral sentiments.' George F. Will, Washington Post'With care and rigor leavened by an engaging writing style, Gregory Collins has dramatically advanced our understanding of Burke's economic thought. This is an indispensable guide for all future Burke scholars.' Yuval Levin, National Affairs'A thorough study of Edmund Burke's thought on economics in which every aspect is well-considered, every scholar answered, every point nicely phrased. This is a major contribution to Burke scholarship and to our understanding of the beginnings and principles of modern economics.' Harvey C. Mansfield, Harvard University and Stanford University'The book is impressive in its thoroughness on Burke on issue after issue, focusing on his words and deeds.' Daniel B. Klein, National Review'This very thorough and thoughtful book goes a long way toward setting the record straight.' Tyler Cowen, Marginal Revolution'… the definitive account of Burke's economic thought, one which shows how Burke's political economy displays 'an underlying coherence that incorporated elements of prudence, utility, and tradition.' Samuel Greeg, Law and Liberty'Gregory Collins's study of the economic ideas of Burke is a comprehensive achievement. It will set the terms of discussion for a generation on Burke's political economy and its relation to his thinking about manners and morals.' David Bromwich, Yale University, author of The Intellectual Life of Edmund Burke'A revelation.' David Brooks, The New York Times'Collins's treatment of an undervalued aspect of Burkean thought will earn the prescriptive right to stand, for a long time, as the definitive study of the Anglo-Irish statesman's political economy. Collins has done students of Burke and of political economy alike an immense service.' Greg Weiner, Assumption College'The first serious monograph dedicated to examining [Burke's] views on political economy … An important and original study that adds significantly to our understanding of Burke.' Richard Bourke, University of Cambridge'A brilliant book, full of insight and illumination.' The Rt Hon Jesse Norman MP, Financial Secretary to the Treasury, HM Government'A deep study.' James Grant, Wall Street Journal'Commerce and Manners is, undoubtedly, the most comprehensive study available on Burke's economic thought … the most critical merit of the work is that it places Burke's thought in the intellectual context and resolves any prima facie contradictions, frictions, or discrepancies that may appear in his works. Overall, the book delivers what it promises: a systematic exposition of the interaction of commerce and ethics in the Anglo-Irish statesman's thought.' Ioannes P. Chountis, History of Economic Ideas'A tremendous achievement, one that reflects a great deal of thought and inspires a good deal of reflection as well … deeply researched and well-argued.' Jerry Z. Muller, The Catholic University of America'A fine book. It makes both an important contribution to contemporary debates about conservatism and freedom and to Burke scholarship.' Peter Berkowitz, Hoover Institution, Stanford UniversityTable of ContentsIntroduction; Part I. Biography: 1. Biography and Burke's authority as a political economist; Part II. Market Economies: 2. Thoughts and Details on Scarcity, supply and demand, and middlemen; 3. Agricultural policy, labor, and wealth redistribution; 4. Markets, rationalism, and the Hayek connection; Part III. The British Constitution and Economical Reform: 5. The British Constitution: Burke's program of economical reform and the role of the state; Part IV. Foreign Trade: 6. Account of the European Settlements in America, the British West Indies, and the Free Port Act of 1766; 7. Observations on a Late State of the Nation and the political economy of Anglo-American imperial relations; 8. Anglo-Irish commercial relations, Two Letters on the Trade of Ireland, and the politics of free trade; Part V. India: 9. Britain's East India Company, Indian markets, and monopoly: 10. Speech on Fox's India Bill, six mercantile principles, and the danger of political commerce; Part VI. The French Revolution: 11. Reflections on the Revolution in France: property, the monied interest, and the assignats; 12. The real rights of men, manners, and the limits of transactional exchange; Conclusion.

Read more less

Book SynopsisWhy Cicero Matters shows us how the Roman philosopher and statesman Marcus Tullius, better known as Cicero, can help realize a new political world. His impact on humanitarianism, the Enlightenment and the Founding Fathers of America is immense. Yet we give Julius Caesar all our attention. Why? What does this say about modern politics and political culture? This book gives us Cicero as an antidote to the myth of the strong man of history. Reading Cicero's On Duties alongside two more introspective philosophical texts, On Friendship and On Old Age, we see how Cicero turned politics into a higher, intellectual form of art, believing in education, in culture and above all in the power of philosophy to instil morality. Cicero has reassuring words on the indispensable work philosophers make, and why the common good needs philosophy. In an age when anti-intellectualism runs rampant, Why Cicero Matters introduces us to an ancient thinker who argues cultureTrade ReviewThis book offers an engaging introduction to key elements of Cicero’s political philosophy and shows how his views and arguments can still be relevant in contemporary society: comparisons with the modern world from the author’s personal perspective provide stimulating food for thought. * Gesine Manuwald, University College London, UK *Almost in the style of his subject’s Letters, Bufacchi strikes up a warm and witty friendship with Rome’s most famous orator and statesman; this short book offers a superb introduction to Cicero’s political and philosophical thought, yet is also a thought-provoking meditation on the rise of authoritarian populism today. * Victoria Rimell, Professor of Latin, University of Warwick, UK *An engaging and accessible account of Cicero, that emphasises his contemporary relevance. Bufacchi shows how Cicero’s criticisms of the authoritarian populists of his day apply to the little Caesars of today. He draws a compelling parallel between Cicero’s defence of the Roman Republic and our current defence of democracy, showing how it likewise turns on reviving the mixed constitution. * Richard Bellamy, Professor of Political Science, University College London, UK *A lively and entertaining argument that the republican politician-philosopher Cicero can speak to us on key issues that concern us today – when economic self-interest saps citizen solidarity, social media erodes relationships, and populist autocrats undermine democracy – all richly illuminated by reference to historical and contemporary events and ideas. * Iseult Honohan, Associate Professor Emeritus, Politics and International Relations, University College Dublin, Ireland *Table of ContentsPreface Introduction: It’s All Shakespeare’s Fault 1. Cicero, Homo Philosophicus 2. Politics as Ethics 3. The People’s Republic 4. The Value of Friendship 5. Getting Old, With Decorum 6. Rome Needs Philosophy Epilogue: Why Read Cicero Today Notes Bibliography Index

Read more less

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

Read more less

Book SynopsisThomas More (1779-1852) was one of the most influential figures in Tudor England. A lawyer, philosopher, statesman, author, judge and prominent humanist, he was a key advisor to Henry VIII but lost the king's trust - and his life - through his opposition to the Reformation. He was later canonised as a saint by the Catholic church.This edition contains the 1684 translation by Gilbert Burnet (1643-1715). Burnet was a Scottish philosopher and historian fluent in several languages and was most famous for his magnum opus, the three-volume History of the Reformation.

Read more less

Book SynopsisJean-Jacques Rousseau, born in 1762 in Geneva, became one of the most important men in 18th-century France. He was one of the foremost philosophers of the Enlightenment and wrote a number of books to promote his ideas including the Discourse on Political Economy, The Social Contract and Emile.G. D. H Cole (1889-1959) was a political theorist and university teacher who held important academic posts at Oxford University. He became prominent immediately before the First World War as a leading exponent of guild socialism and published his first major work, The World of Labour, in 1913. During the 1930s he was acknowledged as the most prolific writer on the intellectual history of British socialism in articles in the New Statesman and in his works, which included A History of Socialist Thought (1953-8). He was married to Margaret Postgate (sister of Raymond Postgate) with whom he collaborated in detective fiction.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe Russian Revolution of 1917 was not just a world-historical event in its own right, but also struck powerful blows against racism and imperialism, and so inspired many black radicals internationally. This edited collection explores the implications of the creation of the Soviet Union and the Communist International for black and colonial liberation struggles across the African diaspora. It examines the critical intellectual influence of Marxism and Bolshevism on the current of revolutionary ‘black internationalism’ and analyses how ‘Red October’ was viewed within the contested articulations of different struggles against racism and colonialism. Challenging European-centred understandings of the Russian Revolution and the global left, The Red and the Black offers new insights on the relations between Communism, various lefts and anti-colonialisms across the Black Atlantic – including Garveyism and various other strands of Pan-Africanism. The volume makes a major and original intellectual contribution by making the relations between the Russian Revolution and the Black Atlantic central to debates on questions relating to racism, resistance and social change.Trade Review'This ideologically diverse collection is uniformly well-written and exceedingly informative. The inescapable and unavoidable conclusion it renders is that the Russian Revolution of 1917 delivered a mighty blow against colonialism, imperialism and forms of apartheid alike. Simultaneously, by implication it blazes the trail and illuminates the way forward for those seeking to create a better world.' Gerald Horne, author of Paul Robeson: The Artist as Revolutionary'Featherstone and Høgsbjerg must be credited with putting together a fantastic edited collection which makes both an important contribution to keeping alive, and shedding new light on, herstories and histories of Black radical rebellion. In doing so, they have further reminded us of the struggles that have, in different ways, been central to the Black Lives Matter movement in recent times, as well as wider transnational (and interconnected) opposition to neo-imperialism.'Stephen D. Ashe, University of Durham, Ethnic and Racial Studies -- .Table of ContentsIntroduction: Red October and the Black Atlantic – David Featherstone and Christian HøgsbjergPart I Racism, resistance and revolution1 Claude McKay’s Bolshevization in London – Winston James2 From Russian colonies to Black America … and back: Lenin and Langston Hughes – Matthieu Renault3 African American literature in the Soviet Union, 1917-1930s: contacts, translations, criticism and editorial policy – Olga PanovaPart II Spreading the Revolution Across the Black Atlantic4 Bolshevism and African American agency in the African American Radical Press, 1917-24 – Cathy Bergin5 International Communist trade union organisations and the call to black toilers in the interwar Atlantic world – Holger Weiss6 Firebrands, trade unionists and Marxists: the shadow of the Russian Revolution, the colonial state and radicalism in Guyana, 1917-57– Nigel Westmaas7 Racialising the Caribbean Basin: the Communist racial agenda for the American hemisphere, 1931-35– Sandra Pujals8 The Left Book Club and its associates: The transnational circulation of socialist ideas in an Atlantic network– Matheus Cardoso da SilvaPart III Africa, the Soviet Union and the Cold War9 The beginning of the Cold War in the Gold Coast? – Marika Sherwood10 Decolonisation and the Cold War: African student elites in the USSR, 1955-64 – Harold D. Weaver11 ‘Peoples' Friendship’ in the Cold War: the Patrice Lumumba Peoples' Friendship University – Rachel RubinAfterword: A Black journey of Red hope – Maxim Matusevich

Read more less

Book SynopsisBillions of dollars were hastily poured into the global banking system in a frantic attempt at financial stabilisation. So why has it not been possible to bring the same forces to bear in addressing world poverty and environmental crisis? In this take-no-prisoners analysis, Slavoj Zizek frames the moral failures of the modern world in terms of the epoch-making events of the first decade of this century. What he finds is the old one-two punch of history: the jab of tragedy, the right hook of farce. In the attacks of 9/11 and the global credit crunch, liberalism dies twice: as a political doctrine and as an economic theory. The election of Donald Trump only confirms the bankruptcy of a liberal order on its last legs. First as Tragedy, Then as Farce is a call for the left to reinvent itself in the light of our desperate historical situation. The time for liberal, moralistic blackmail is over.Trade ReviewZizek leaves no social or cultural phenomenon untheorized, and is master of the counterintuitive observation. * New Yorker *One of the most innovative and exciting contemporary thinkers of the left. * Times Literary Supplement *Few thinkers illustrate the contradictions of contemporary capitalism better than Slavoj Zizek ... one of the world's best-known public intellectuals. -- John Gray * New York Review of Books *A gifted speaker-tumultuous, emphatic, direct-he writes as he speaks. -- Jonathan Rée * Guardian *

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn recent years, the promises of the populist moment have faltered, as seen in the defeats of Jeremy Corbyn, Bernie Sanders, Jean-Luc Melenchon. In addition, the pandemic has brought about a strong need for protection, creating a favorable terrain for authoritarian forms of politics. This new situation represents a challenge for the left, whose rationalism and modernist idea of progress is rightly suspicious of such demands. How, therefore, can the left deal with the economic, social and ecological crisis that the pandemic has brought to the fore? Chantal Mouffe argues that the left should not underestimate the importance of affects when developing a strategy for political change. In fact, after years of 'post-politics', we are witnessing a 'return of the political'. And in response Mouffe proposes the creation of a broad coalition of movements under the banner of a 'Green Democratic Revolution'. This entails the protection of society and its material conditions in a way that empowers people instead of making them retreat in a defensive nationalism or in a passive acceptance of technological solutions. It is protection for the many, not the few, providing social justice and fostering solidarity.Towards a Green Democratic Revolution is a bold rallying cry for political organisation in the post-pandemic era.Trade ReviewMouffe is unrepentant. Her new book, Towards a Green Democratic Revolution, maintains that left populism is more relevant than ever in light of climate breakdown and the Covid pandemic. -- Oliver Eagleton * New Statesman *Praise for For a Left Populism * : *Influencing left parties as they enter government, from Greece to Portugal to Mexico. It is a beach-sized introduction to a major left thinker of the twenty-first century. -- Paul Mason * Guardian *An admirable attempt to get us thinking again about what a worthwhile politics might look like, one based on notions of equality, ecology, sovereignty, solidarity and social justice -- Gavin Jacobson * New Statesman *Refreshingly bereft of the sputtering outrage and bafflement that characterizes the growing genre of liberal self-help books, Mouffe channels populism's agonistic clarity -- Thea Riofrancos * n+1 *Praise for Agonistics * : *Mouffe represents a position that every serious student of contemporary political thought must acknowledge and come to terms with * Philosopher's Magazine *

Read more less

Book SynopsisHere Be Monsters speaks to a left that has forgotten its history, its potential, and its power. Gramsci spoke of a time of monsters or morbid symptoms. In the ancient world, monsters were not enemies, but rather divine warnings, symptoms of a world out of balance. Here Be Monsters meets these monsters and listens to what they have to tell us. Interweaving personal stories with engaging histories of political thought and the meanings of monsters, Rhyd Wildermuth reveals the roots of current identity conflicts and political contradictions in feminism, anti-racist theory, Marxism, Frankfurt School theorists, and the many other leftist attempts to put the world back into balance. The left has always been the province of dreamers and visionaries, or as Ursula K. Le Guin named them, “realists of a larger reality.” Here Be Monsters is an urgent and deeply engaging narrative to help us remember that reality once more.Trade Review“Rhyd writes about some of the toughest, most contentious issues of our society — and he does so with empathy and wisdom. A great, highly informative book.”"A call to a politics that is grounded in friendship, surely the starting point for building a common life in the troubled times around and ahead of us.”

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisHow are sex and gender related? Are they the same thing? What exactly is gender? How many genders are there? What is the science on all of this? Is gender a product of nature, nurture, or both? This book introduces readers to fundamental questions about sex and gender categories as they’ve been considered across the centuries and through a wide array of disciplines and perspectives. From the Bible to Darwin, from Enlightenment thinkers to contemporary trans philosophers, Beyond the Binary comprises an accessible survey of the wide range of views about sex and gender. This revised and expanded edition uses updated terminology and diagnostic criteria and offers new material with a greater focus on trans, Indigenous, racialized, and subaltern thinkers. It includes useful discussion questions and further reading recommendations at the end of each chapter, as well as an extensive glossary of terms.Trade Review“This book is an engaging, rigorously-researched introductory guide to some of the central questions around human sex and gender categorisations. It is wonderfully intersectional and interdisciplinary, masterfully surveying and critically engaging a broad array of positions from a host of thinkers, past and present. I highly recommend Beyond the Binary to instructors, students, and any readers wishing to expand their knowledge and deepen their thinking regarding the oft-contested concepts of sex and gender.” — Stephanie Kapusta, Dalhousie University“The first edition of Beyond the Binary: Thinking about Sex and Gender was as thoughtful and teachable a volume as one could ask for on the complex, multidisciplinary issues surrounding sex and gender. The second edition is even better, with expanded discussions of the intersectional conceptual frames necessary for addressing the history of the ‘the binary’ and the culturally emergent forms that extend beyond it. Dea presents these complex ideas in a strikingly teachable way, and, frankly, I can’t wait to use this book in the classroom.” — Willis Salomon, Trinity UniversityTable of Contents Preface Chapter 1: Introduction Chapter 2: Framing, Tools, Terms Chapter 3: Aristotelian and Judeo-Christian Models of Sex Difference Chapter 4: The Second Sex Chapter 5: The Third Sex? Chapter 6: Gender in BIPOC and Subaltern Cultures Chapter 7: Intersex Chapter 8: Trans Chapter 9: Biodeterminism Chapter 10: The One-Sex Model Chapter 11: Difference and Equality Chapter 12: Sex/Gender as Social Construction Glossary Annotated Bibliography Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisSlavoj Žižek is a Hegelian philosopher, a Lacanian psychoanalyst, and a Communist. He is International Director at the Birkbeck Institute for Humanities, University of London, UK, Visiting Professor at the New York University, USA, and Senior Researcher at the Department of Philosophy, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia.

Read more less

Book SynopsisLiving with people who differ - racially, ethnically, religiously or economically - is one of the most urgent challenges facing civil society today. Together argues that co-operation needs more than good will: it is a craft that requires skill. In modern society traditional bonds are waning, and we must develop new forms of secular, civic ritual that make us more skilful in living with others. From Medieval guilds to today''s social networks, Richard Sennett''s visionary book explores the nature of co-operation, why it has become weak and how it can be strengthened.Trade ReviewAs challenging and demanding as cooperation is, it has been our species' secret weapon, and those of us alive today are the descendants of people who had what it takes to make it work. This thoughtful book outlines the craftsmanship we will need to ensure that it continues to do so -- Mark Pagel * New Scientist *A fresh exploration of one of the oldest conundrums facing social theory, which is how cooperation between people is forged and maintained -- Frank Furedi * Times Higher Education *To call this captivating writer an academic sociologist makes as much, or as little, sense as labelling Mozart a court musician ... Eclectic, ecumenical, Sennett leads us with charm and candour down his chosen routes to renovation -- Boyd Tonkin * The Independent *Together is a profound mediation on how humans act as social animals, and an inspiring call for us all to try and embrace differences of tribe, religion and class -- Ian Critchley * Sunday Times *The book offers an artisanal response to a post-industrial condition ... In this sense, Sennett is a true heir to John Ruskin and William Morris -- Terry Eagleton * Times Literary Supplement *Richard Sennett's new book is an excellent resource to help us [work with others], and what shines through it is Sennett's own humanity. He is an excellent scholar and a very agile thinker ... this is a book that should be widely read -- Kester Brewin * Third Way *Co-operation is hard because it is about learning to live with people who think differently or don't know what they think at all. Sennett wants to remind us that this is a skill, and like any skill it takes patience and practice -- David Runciman * The Guardian *

Read more less

Book SynopsisVivian Lowndes is Professor of Public Policy at the University of Birmingham, UK.David Marsh is Director of Research, Institute for Governance and Policy Analysis, University of Canberra, Australia.Gerry Stoker is Professor at the University of Southampton and Centenary Research Professor, Institute for Governance and Policy Analysis, University of Canberra.Table of ContentsIntroduction; Vivien Lowndes, David Marsh and Gerry Stoker PART I: THEORY AND APPROACHES 1. Behavouralism; David Sanders 2. Rational Choice; Andrew Hindmoor and Brad Taylor 3. Institutionalism; Vivien Lowndes 4. Constructivism and Interpretive Theory; Craig Parsons 5. Feminist and Gender Approaches; Meryl Kenny and Fiona Mackay 6. Marxism: A global perspective; Ray Kiely 7. Poststructuralism; Mark Wenman 8. Political Psychology; Frank Mols and Paul 't Hart 9. Normative Theory; Chris Armstrong PART II: METHODS AND RESEARCH DESIGN 10. Ontology and Epistemology in Political Science; David Marsh, Selen A. Ercan and Paul Furlong 11. Meta-Theoretical Issues in Political Analysis; David Marsh 12. Research Design; Dimiter Toshkov 13. Qualitative Methods; Ariadne Vromen 14. Quantitative Methods; Peter John 15. Comparative Methods; Matt Ryan 16. The Experimental Method: Prospects for field and laboratory studies; Helen Margetts and Gerry Stoker 17. Big Data: Methods for collection and analysis; Michael J. Jensen 18. The Relevance of Political Science; B. Guy Peters, Jon Pierre and Gerry Stoker.

Read more less

Book Synopsis''A stunning mosaic of contemporary America'' Fintan O''Toole''Essential reading, with quick insights and bomblets of surprise'' TLS A panoptical vision of modern America, from the brilliant mind of Jill Lepore. The 2010s marked a shift in America''s trajectory, beginning with the run-up to Donald Trump''s election, through to the chaos and confusion left in its wake. With the wit and verve that has made her the acclaimed national historian of a generation, Jill Lepore reflects on the consuming fissures of this era: culture wars and media corrosion; disruptive innovation and techno-utopianism; constitutional crises surrounding gun rights and a reckoning with a deep history of racial violence. These essays make sense of American life in a moment of polarization, capturing the tumultuous relationship between the country''s violent past and fractured present.Praise for Jill Lepore:''The pre-emi

Read more less

Book SynopsisTrade Review"A scholar's edition at a student price!" --Harvey Mansfield, Harvard University"The translation of Latin variants and the index of Biblical citations mark this off as by far the best edition of the Leviathan." --Thomas Pangle, University of Toronto"Plainly the best edition of Leviathan. Superbly edited and indexed, with footnote passages from the Latin edition, a helpful glossary, biographical and autobiographical material, and a translation of Hobbes on the Nicene Creed, it will be an indispensable study tool. Curley’s introduction is masterly." --Jerome Schneewind, Johns Hopkins University

Read more less

Book SynopsisIt is not the well-being of individuals that makes cities great, but the well-being of the communityFew figures in intellectual history have proved as notorious and ambiguous as Niccolò Machiavelli. But while his treatise The Prince made his name synonymous with autocratic ruthlessness and cynical manipulation, The Discourses (c.1517) shows a radically different outlook on the world of politics. In this carefully argued commentary on Livy's history of republican Rome, Machiavelli proposed a system of government that would uphold civic freedom and security by instilling the virtues of active citizenship, and that would also encourage citizens to put the needs of the state above selfish, personal interests. Ambitious in scope, but also clear-eyed and pragmatic, The Discourses creates a modern theory of republic politics.For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literatureTable of ContentsThe DiscoursesPrefaceIntroduction by Bernard CrickSo Many MachiavellisThe Prince and The DiscoursesRepublics as Mixed GovernmentThe Mixture as AdaptabilityThe Value of ConflictFactors of Social ClassThe Conditions for Republican RuleTheory and MethodPolitics and MoralityThe Letter to VettoriSuggestions for Further ReadingTHE DISCOURSES OF NICCOLÒ MACHIAVELLITable of ContentsThe TextNotes

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisWhy aren't ordinary Russians more outraged by Putin's invasion of Ukraine? Inside the Kremlin's own historical propaganda narratives, Russia's invasion of Ukraine makes complete sense. From its World War II cult to anti-Western conspiracy theories, the Kremlin has long used myth and memory to legitimize repression at home and imperialism abroad, its patriotic history resonating with and persuading large swathes of the Russian population. In Memory Makers, Russia analyst Jade McGlynn takes us into the depths of Russian historical propaganda, revealing the chilling web of nationwide narratives and practices perforating everyday life, from after-school patriotic history clubs to tower block World War II murals. The use of history to manifest a particular Russian identity has had grotesque, even gruesome, consequences, but it belongs to a global political pattern where one's view of history is the ultimate marker of political loyalty, patriotism and national belonging. Memory MTrade ReviewWith authority and skill … McGlynn gives what now ranks as the most reliable, up-to-date account of the use and misuse of history and memory in post-Soviet Russia. -- Tony Barber * Financial Times *McGlynn presents a powerful and disturbing case that the invasion had a convincing historical logic to it, for Vladimir Putin and for Russians more generally. . . . As if to prove McGlynn’s point, historically based justifications for Russian policy and alleged plots by the West form terrifyingly explicit parts of Russia’s most recent National Security Strategy. Her insightful and creative analysis suggests that we are in for a long conflict not just over the fate of Ukraine, but also over how differing memories of the past will continue to shape the future. * Washington Post *McGlynn’s informative study of Russia’s “memory wars” shows just how easily performance, media narratives and cultural priming can slip into real violence. -- Bradley A. Gorski * Times Literary Supplement *Memory Makers makes for fascinating reading … [It] should be required reading for anyone wishing to engage in Russian politics, scholars, journalists, policy-makers alike. -- Usman Butt * Middle East Monitor *Pithy and tightly argued. -- Christopher Silvester * The Critic *Scholarly, revelatory and deeply unsettling … Dr McGlynn’s brilliant, remorseless study inculpates almost the entire Russian nation. -- Allan Mallinson * Country Life *History is back - armed with artillery and with a commitment to genocide. Jade McGlynn’s highly timely study shows how Putin weaponises the past to destroy the future * Peter Pomerantsev, Author of 'This is Not Propaganda' *As Vladimir Putin presents his imperial adventure in Ukraine as a twenty-first century re-run of the Great Patriotic War against the Nazis, it has never been more crucial to understand the degree to which his regime seeks to legitimise itself by the rewriting of history, and Jade McGlynn provides a deeply-argued and nuanced analysis of this pernicious process. * Mark Galeotti, Author of 'A Short History of Russia' *Jade McGlynn explains why Russians back the senseless war on Ukraine - because of the state's abuse of history as a tool to legitimate Russia's return to empire. * Keir Giles, Author of 'Russia’s War on Everybody' *McGlynn’s fascinating study shows how Russian memory politics does much more than evoke memories of World War Two. Its particular propaganda form is to replay and conflate the past and the present. Events in Ukraine in 2014 are not just said to echo those of the 1940s, footage and commentary are literately spliced together; Russia’s intervention in Syria is depicted as the Cold War that wasn’t, with Moscow victorious. * Andrew Wilson, University College London, author of 'Ukraine Crisis: What it Means for the West' *McGlynn delivers a timely, well-researched account of how memory politics are playing out in Russia today, where history also functions as ideology. This book is excellent for those interested in discovering how Russians understand their recent history, and why they have come to view it as they do. * Todd H. Nelson, Cleveland State University, Author of 'Bringing Stalin Back In: Memory Politics and the Creation of a Useable Past in Putin’s Russia' *Painstakingly dissects the genesis, defining features and aims of the Kremlin’s manyfold (ab)uses of history in the last decade...Jade McGlynn’s book is much-needed reading for scholars who want to dig deeper into the discourse underpinning Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and the political use of history in today’s world more generally. Through thorough and painstaking analysis, the author engages with this narrative very seriously, dissecting its key tenets, examining where it comes from – and, sadly, where it is leading Russia and its people. * The International Spectator *Table of ContentsAcknowledgements Note on Transliteration, Translation and Citation Style List of Abbreviations 1. Taking Back Control of History 2. The Kremlin’s Memory Policies 3. Past as Present: The Historical Framing of Ukraine, Sanctions and Syria 4. Amplifying the Call to History 5. Living Forms of Patriotism 6. Attaining Cultural Consciousness 7. The Endlessness of History References Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe emergence of modern sciences in the seventeenth century profoundly renewed our understanding of Nature. For the last three centuries new ideas of Nature have been continuously developed by theology, politics, economics, and science, especially the sciences of the material world.Trade ReviewListed as one of Resurgence & Ecologist's 2017 Book of the Year"Facing Gaia stands as a toolbox for many disciplines. It harbours crucial insights: we are witnessing a catastrophe in which we are all implicated… Latour argues that it matters what each of us thinks and does. It will be written in clouds, spelt in stone, legible in water."Australian Book ReviewTable of ContentsContents Introduction First Lecture: On the Instability of the (Notion of) Nature A mutation of the relation to the world ¥ Four ways to be driven crazy by ecology ¥ The instability of the nature/culture relation ¥ The invocation of human nature ¥ The recourse to the �natural world� ¥ On a great service rendered by the pseudo-controversy over the climate ¥ �Go tell your masters that the scientists are on the warpath!� ¥ In which we seek to pass from �nature� to the world ¥ How to face up Second Lecture: How Not to (De-)Animate Nature Disturbing �truths� ¥ Describing in order to warn ¥ In which we concentrate on agency ¥ On the difficulty of distinguishing between humans and nonhumans ¥ �And yet it moves!� ¥ A new version of natural law ¥ On an unfortunate tendency to confuse cause and creation ¥ Toward a nature that would no longer be a religion? Third Lecture: Gaia, a (Finally Secular) Figure for Nature Galileo, Lovelock: Two symmetrical discoveries ¥ Gaia, an exceedingly treacherous mythical name for a scientific theory ¥ A parallel with Pasteur�s microbes ¥ Lovelock too makes micro-actors proliferate ¥ How to avoid the idea of a system? ¥ Organisms make their own environment, they do not adapt to it ¥ On a slight complication of Darwinism ¥ Space, an offspring of history Fourth Lecture: The Anthropocene and the Destruction of (the Image of) the Globe The Anthropocene: an innovation ¥ Mente et Malleo ¥ A debatable term for an uncertain epoch ¥ An ideal opportunity to disaggregate the figures of Man and Nature ¥ Sloterdijk or the theological origin of the image of the Sphere ¥ Confusion between Science and the Globe ¥ Tyrrell against Lovelock ¥ Feedback loops do not draw a Globe ¥ Finally, a different principle of composition ¥ Melancholia, or the end of the Globe Fifth Lecture: How to Convene the Various Peoples (of Nature)? Two Leviathans, two cosmologies ¥ How to avoid war between the gods? ¥ A perilous diplomatic project ¥ The impossible convocation of a �people of nature� ¥ How to give negotiation a chance? ¥ On the conflict between science and religion ¥ Uncertainty about the meaning of the word �end� ¥ Comparing collectives in combat ¥ Doing without any natural religion Sixth Lecture: How (Not) to Put an End to the End of Times? The fateful date of 1610 ¥ Stephen Toulmin and the scientific counter-revolution ¥ In search of the religious origin of �disinhibition� ¥ The strange project of achieving Paradise on Earth ¥ Eric Voegelin and the avatars of Gnosticism ¥ On an apocalyptic origin of climate skepticism ¥ From the religious to the terrestrial by way of the secular ¥ A �people of Gaia�? ¥ How to respond when accused of producing �apocalyptic discourse� Seventh Lecture: The States (of Nature) between War and Peace The �Great Enclosure� of Caspar David Friedrich ¥ The end of the State of Nature ¥ On the proper dosage of Carl Schmitt ¥ �We seek to understand the normative order of the earth� ¥ on the difference between war and police work ¥ How to turn around and face Gaia? ¥ Human versus Earthbound ¥ Learning to identify the struggling territories Eighth Lecture: How to Govern Struggling (Natural) Territories? In the Theater of Negotiations, Les Amandiers, May 2015 ¥ Learning to meet without a higher arbiter ¥ Extension of the Conference of the Parties to Nonhumans ¥ Multiplication of the parties involved ¥ Mapping the critical zones ¥ Rediscovering the meaning of the State ¥ Laudato Si� ¥ Finally, facing Gaia ¥ �Earth, earth!� Works Cited

Read more less

Book SynopsisJacques Derrida was one of most influential philosophers of the 20th century. In The Politics of Friendship he explores the idea of friendship and its political consequences, past and future in order to explore invention of a radically new friendship, of a deeper and more inclusive democracy.Trade ReviewAs Jacques Derrida shows in The Politics of Friendship, many great meditations on friendship-by Cicero, by Montaigne, by Bataille, by Blanchot-are also meditations on mourning ... For Derrida, death lays bare the essential separateness of the friend not only in death but also in life. -- Merve Emre * New Yorker *

Read more less

Book SynopsisTrade Review"Provides useful tips on how to age well."--Wan Lixin, Shanghai Daily "[A] covetable little translation."--Karen Shook, Times Higher EducationTable of ContentsIntroduction vii How to Grow Old 1 Notes 179 Further Reading 195

Read more less