Social and political philosophy Books

Book SynopsisA decade ago, a wave of mass mobilisations described as "horizontal" and "leaderless" swept the planet, holding the promise of real democracy and justice for the 99%. Many saw its subsequent ebb as proof of the need to go back to what was once called "the question of organisation". For something so often described as essential, however, political organisation remains a surprisingly under-theorised field. In this book, Rodrigo Nunes proposes to remedy that lack by starting again from scratch. Redefining the terms of the problem, he rejects the confusion between organisation and any of the forms it can take, such as the party, and argues that organisation must be understood as always supposing a diverse ecology of different initiatives and organisational forms. Drawing from a wide array of sources and traditions that include cybernetics, poststructuralism, network theory and Marxism, Nunes develops a grammar that eschews easy oppositions between "verticalism" and "horizontalism", centralisation and dispersion, and offers a fresh approach to enduring issues like spontaneity, leadership, democracy, strategy, populism, revolution, and the relationship between movements and parties.Trade ReviewThis is the book we've been waiting for: Rodrigo Nunes systematically assesses the problems the left has faced since the Occupy movement and its failure. A must-read for the activists of our time. -- Franco 'Bifo' Berardi, author of Futurability: The Age of Impotence and the Horizon of PossibilityThis is quite an achievement: one of those period-defining books that turns all usual assumptions upside down. -- Wu Ming, authors of Q and AltaiThis is an exciting, innovative book. Rodrigo Nunes has utterly revitalised the stale theory of political organisation with new evidence, new thinking and new strategic concepts. All of the suffocating clichés of both horizontalists and vanguardists are briskly overturned here. Everyone can learn something from this book. -- Richard Seymour, author of Corbyn: The Strange Rebirth of Radical PoliticsHow is to be done? With whom? With what? Soberly reckoning with the limits of a decade of mass movements against austerity and authoritarianism, and writing in the harsh glare of our warming condition, Nunes enjoins us to revisit the theory of organisation beyond the party as fetish or bogeyman. Drawing on a rich trove of sources - from Spinoza to Bogdanov, cybernetic theory to contemporary activism - Neither Vertical nor Horizontal is an indispensable critical and clinical intervention into the principal political problem of our time. -- Alberto Toscano, author of Fanaticism: On the Uses of an IdeaA tremendous book - a thoughtful, deep synthesis of lessons learned over the last twenty years of struggle for a world beyond capital. I was not only constantly struck by the many insights you generate from a novel theoretical collocation (I love the second-order cybernetics plus Spinozist Marx combination), but also deeply moved. Reading the book was therapeutic: after completing it I felt partially healed from the political disappointments, traumas and feuds of the last two decades, because you demonstrate how something can be learned from it all, something that goes forward. It's a courageous and brilliant volume. -- Nick Dyer-Witheford, University of Western Ontario, author of Cyber-Proletariat: Global Labour in the Digital VortexA crucial part of our thinking on the future of organisation is rooted in Rodrigo Nunes' work. -- Nick Srnicek and Alex Williams, authors of Inventing the Future: Postcapitalism and a World Without WorkIn Neither Vertical Nor Horizontal, Rodrigo Nunes has handed a great gift to anyone attempting to create a more just world. Both theoretically rich and intensely practical, Nunes's book is not a guide to what is to be done. Rather, it is much more important: it is a guide to thinking more honestly, clearly, and generously about the work of social movements. It will help us to ask better questions and to be better comrades, to be more willing to admit to and learn from mistakes as well as successes. Most importantly, it will help the thing we call "the movement" not just to fail better but to have a real chance to win. -- Sarah Jaffe, author of Necessary Trouble and Work Won't Love You BackThe sudden explosions, fleeting victories, and apparent failures of the last fifteen years have raised very difficult questions for people committed to building a better world. This book provides many of the answers. -- Vincent Bevins, author of The Jakarta Method and If We Burn: The Mass Protest Decade and the Missing RevolutionNeither Vertical Nor Horizontal charts a clear path out of the conceptual and tactical impasse within which much of the radical left has found itself stuck for decades. Clear, rigorous and readable, this is one of the most important books to have been published at the junction between political theory and political strategy for many years. -- Jeremy Gilbert, University of East London, co-author of Hegemony Now: How Big Tech and Wall Street Won the World (and How We Win it Back)In this book Rodrigo Nunes brings classic issues of political organisation back to the table in light of the experiences that social movements have encountered in the first decades of the 21st century. With a style that stresses provocations and contradictions as a method for transcending exclusive dichotomies between horizontality versus verticality and between the subjective versus the objective, this book updates for the struggles of the present debates that cannot be taken for finished, let alone settled. Full of useful formulas for synthesising contemporary debates, this work is an exhaustive analysis of how "diversity of strategies" can coexist with the search for structural effects on various scales. The non-linear and combined strategy that emerges from Nunes' proposal is of both philosophical and political interest, and a key contribution to the movements facing the urgent dilemmas of our day. -- Verónica Gago, University of Buenos Aires, author of Feminist International: How to Change EverythingThis is a book born out of a passionate participation in movements and struggles over the last twenty years in different parts of the world. It makes key contributions to the vexed question of organization, revisiting it in a world made up by complex dependences, circuits, and connections. Rethinking organization and political action ecologically, Rodrigo Nunes displaces alternatives that have haunted debates on the left for some time now, as for instance the between vertical and horizontal, movement and party, micro and macropolitics. In so doing, he opens a new space for political experiments on the field of organization -- that is, for the effectiveness (or "fitness") of transformative political action. -- Sandro Mezzadra, University of Bologna, co-author of Border as Method and The Politics of Operations"Don't Mourn, Organize" is a slogan that gained popularity in the wake of the Arab Spring and Occupy Wall Street. However, the imperative to organize contains its own divisions and contradictions: between notions of organization from outside and within, hierarchy and spontaneity, vertical and horizontal. Rodrigo Nunes examines the unstated philosophical presuppositions underlying these divisions in order to advance a new theory of organization based on a diverse ecology of different forces and factors, overcoming those dualisms for good. In doing so, Nunes engages with thinkers as diverse as Spinoza, Bateson, and Lenin, demonstrating that such concepts as affect, transindividuality, and ecology are not philosophical distractions from the political but necessary to rethink the basis of politics itself. -- Jason Read, University of Southern Maine, author of The Politics of TransindividualityPolitical theory and philosophy have relegated the question of organization to the social sciences and management. In breaking this mold, Rodrigo Nunes releases the debate on organization from historical experiences of trauma and melancholia. Neither Vertical nor Horizontal opens vistas in which the left can win, not once and for all but here and now. -- Brett Neilson, Western Sydney University, co-author of Border as Method and The Politics of OperationsIs vertical or horizontal organisation more desirable for social movements and left-wing parties? Rodrigo Nunes intervenes in this longstanding debate about more hierarchical and participatory forms of organisation by thoughtfully revealing how organisational decisions always need to be taken in light of a broader ecology of organisations and relations. No man is an island, an no organisation exists in the void. -- Paolo Gerbaudo, King’s College London, author of The Great Recoil: Politics After Populism and PandemicNeither Vertical nor Horizontal provides compelling insights about several key issues of contemporary militancy, in particular the need for social movements to organize ecologically in order to be effective. It also assesses the link between the rise of complexity theory and the process of increasing depoliticization since the 1980s in such a way that a radical 'reclaiming strategy' becomes not only possible, but necessary. -- Emanuele Leonardi, University of BolognaRodrigo Nunes's triple background as philosopher, journalist, and activist make him the ideal person to write this wonderful book. Nunes deftly sidesteps the stagnant debates structured by the "horizontalism" vs "party" distinction, showing that organization is essential, but has many forms beyond that of the party. The most interesting move for me is the way Nunes places intentional political organization in a wider field of natural self-organizing processes. With this move, Nunes is able to bring to bear an astonishingly wide variety of scientific and philosophical investigations, from thermodynamics to Spinoza, from cybernetics to Simondon, and more besides. I highly recommend this book to anyone seeking a second look at their system of thought and practice. -- John Protevi, Louisiana State University, author of Political Affect: Connecting the Social and the SomaticA compelling book that alternates the critique of classic and contemporary authors of the revolutionary tradition with an analysis of the social movements that have disrupted the past decade. Rodrigo Nunes' beautiful and dense book deserves to be read and discussed collectively. -- Davide Gallo Lassere * Contretemps *Neither Vertical nor Horizontal is neither just a book of political theory, nor just a critique of organizational failures. Nunes takes theory seriously while also never losing sight of the precise limitations and challenges that organizers and political actors confront. -- Kevin Potter * Jacobin *Nunes creates a vocabulary to begin conversations about what organization there is, and therefore what organization we may desire, as agents seeking a particular change. (.) Neither Vertical nor Horizontal should be crucial reading for those attempting to overcome the impasses we face on the left. -- Alex James * Cosmonaut *Neither Vertical nor Horizontal offers a sober theory of organisation that builds on an eclectic mix of theorists and historical experience. It does not provide an ideal model to be followed but prompts the scholar/activist/organiser to ask, 'what can we do now, in these circumstances?' instead of the disengaged 'what should be done?' Indeed, the greatest strength of the book lies in Nunes's skilfulness at offering practical tools for activists and organisers while retaining scholarly rigour, without compartmentalising theory from practice. -- Birgan Gokmenoglu * LSE Review of Books *

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Book SynopsisThis Must Be the Place introduces and examines music's relationship to cities. Not the influence cities have on music, but the powerful impact music can have on how cities are developed, built, managed and governed. Told in an accessible way through personal stories from cities around the world - including London, Melbourne, Nashville, Austin and Zurich - This Must Be the Place takes a truly global perspective on the ways music is integral to everyday life but neglected in public policy. Arguing for the transformative role of artists and musicians in a post-pandemic world, This Must Be The Place not only examines the powerful impact music can have on our cities, but also serves as a how-to guide and toolkit for music-lovers, artists and activists everywhere to begin the process of reinventing the communities they live in.Trade Review"Shain continues to be the most informed and capable voice on the subject of how music and culture is a critical and powerful component of any thriving community. I turn to him time and time again for insight and guidance, and I find his balance of research and applied learning really is remarkable." "Shapiro's book is one I have been waiting for... Shapiro shows how music and music scenes give life to our communities and provides a playbook for city leaders, musicians, artists, activists, and citizens to use music to make their neighborhoods stronger, more vibrant and inclusive." "This book is a go to resource for anyone who wants to understand the positive impact that music has on our society, how we are under-utilising it, and how we can more effectively integrate it into all areas of our community life. It breathes a passion for music as a force for positivity which everyone can, and should, embrace." "Through compelling stories, Shapiro reveals how music transforms our physical space. Whether you are a professional musician or simply a passionate listener, this must-read book will deepen your appreciation for the profound impact of music on our daily lives and its ability to shape where we live". "Engaging, insightful, and full of practical examples and advice, This Must Be the Place is an essential read for anyone interested in the power of music to shape our cities and our lives." "In a masterful take on the complex relationship between the music we love and the cities we live in, Shapiro shows us that music can be a powerful urban planning tool for the places we call home." "With successful case studies and a focus on systems and policy, Shain Shapiro's book brings the power of music and community back to the place it matters: your city." "A lovely, thought-provoking book, full of practical ideas and examples for those who share the goal of encouraging music to flourish in their city. I look forward to using this book in my classroom to spark debate and discussion, and recommend it to music students, researchers and policymakers alike." Shain's book exposes the contradictions and prejudices that music must navigate, and argues convincingly that our leaders have a responsibility (and an opportunity) to understand and engineer the material conditions to safeguard its future - and, by extension, all our futures. "Shain changed our community's outlook towards music and inspired Huntsville to take an intentional approach towards growing our music ecosystem to enhance our economy and quality of life for our residents and visitors." "Shain Shapiro convinces us that music is a foundational part of the ideal city and an indispensable civic right - and shows us, step by step, how we can claim it." In This Must Be the Place, Shapiro reimagines digitalism's artificial constructs and devises new and transformative means for bringing people together in our constantly evolving cityscapes. In Shapiro's brave new world, it's the music that ineluctably matters."

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Book SynopsisA psychoanalyst's ground-breaking exploration of the taboo emotion of anger, and its impact on our personal and political lives, from the acclaimed author of Not Working.

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Book SynopsisThe communists do not preach morality at all; this line from The Communist Manifesto might seem to settle the question of whether Marxism has anything to offer moral philosophy. Yet, Marx issued both trenchant critiques of bourgeois morality and thundering condemnations of capitalism''s vampire-like destructiveness. He decried commodity-exchange for corroding our ability to value one another for who we are, not how much our lives could be traded away for. He expressed apparently ethical views about human nature, the conditions necessary for human flourishing, and the desirability of bringing such conditions about--views that are interwoven throughout his life''s work, from his youthful philosophical poetry to his unfinished masterpiece, Capital.Renewed attention to Marx''s distinctively dialectical and historical materialist approach to conflict and change makes sense of this apparent tension in his thought. Following Marx, Vanessa Christina Wills centers labor--human beings satisfying their needs through conscious, purpose-driven, and transformative interaction with the material world--as the essential human activity. Working people''s struggles reveal capitalism''s worst ravages while pointing to a better future and embodying the only way there: rational transformation of our relationships to ourselves, to one another, and to the natural world, so that the human condition emerges not as a burden we must bear but as life we joyfully create. The purposiveness of labor gives rise to a normativity already inherent in the present state of things, one that can guide us in knowing what sort of world we should build and that further prepares us to build it.Rather than preach morality, the key task for moral philosophy is to theorize in the light that working peoples'' struggles for survival shine on capitalism--an existential threat to humanity and the defining ethical problem of our time.

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Book SynopsisBorn in 1926 in France, Foucault is one of those rare philosophers who has become a cult figure. Over the course of his life he dabbled in drugs, politics, and the Paris SM scene, all whilst striving to understand the deep concepts of identity, knowledge, and power. From aesthetics to the penal system; from madness and civilisation to avant-garde literature, Foucault was happy to reject old models of thinking and replace them with versions that are still widely debated today. A major influence on Queer Theory and gender studies (he was openly gay and died of an AIDS-related illness in 1984), he also wrote on architecture, history, law, medicine, literature, politics, and of course philosophy. In this Very Short Introduction Gary Gutting presents a wide-ranging but non-systematic exploration of some highlights of Foucault''s life and thought. Beginning with a brief biography to set the social and political stage, he then tackles Foucault''s thoughts on literature, in particular the avant-garde scene; his philosophical and historical work; his treatment of knowledge and power in modern society; and his thoughts on sexuality. This new edition includes feminist criticisms of Foucault''s apparently sexist treatment of the Jouy case, as well as a new chapter offering a unified overview of the Collège de France lectures, now a major focus of interest in Foucault. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.Table of Contents1: Lives and works 2: Literature 3: Politics 4: Archaeology 5: Genealogy 6: The masked philosopher 7: Madness 8: Crime and punishment 9: Modern sex 10: Ancient sex 11: Foucault after Foucault Further reading Index

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Book SynopsisWhy is gender equality essential?June Sarpong proves why eradicating sexism is key to our personal development, and social and economic progress. With new chapters on reclaiming power over women's bodies and their safety, this updated edition is a comprehensive guide to promoting inclusivity.Because the truth is, equality benefits us all. Praise for June Sarpong's Diversify:June Sarpong examines the research behind diversity and discrimination while grounding them in personal narratives, highlighting our common humanity.' Kofi Annan, co-recipient of the Nobel Peace PrizeI am so glad June Sarpong is working on this matter of diversity.' Desmond TutuA passionately written polemic You MagazineAn engaging read with lots of important and good ideas' StylistMay prove to be our handbook to negotiate these troubled times' PsychologiesTrade ReviewPraise for Diversify ‘Engaging and informative … June Sarpong examines the research behind diversity and discrimination while grounding them in personal narratives, highlighting our common humanity.’ Kofi Annan, co-recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize ‘I am so glad June Sarpong is working on this matter of diversity. We don't seem to know how to handle differences. When will we learn that we share one common humanity as Shakespeare's Shylock declared so eloquently?’ Desmond Tutu ‘My experiences during the Holocaust has led me on a lifetime mission to promote the benefits of diversity … telling my story and that of my step-sister Anne Frank and why civil society must do all it can to protect and celebrate our diversity. Diversify helps us take the first steps on the journey to tolerance.’ Eva Schloss MBE “A passionately written polemic” You Magazine ‘How boring would life be without diversity? A case of the bland leading the bland. Life would be pretty … dull without [my autistic son’s] literal, lateral, tangential take on the world … Mozart, Orwell, Van Gough, Warhol and many other amazing artists, scientists and musicians were on the autistic spectrum. And yet only 15% of autistic people are in the workforce. If only we would learn to think outside the neurotypical box’ Kathy Lette ‘An engaging read with lots of important and good ideas’ Stylist ‘May prove to be our handbook to negotiate these troubled times’ Psychologies

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Book SynopsisTagore was a fierce opponent of British rule in India. In this work he discusses the resurgence of the East and the challenge it poses to Western supremacy, calling for a future beyond nationalism, based instead on cooperation and racial tolerance.GREAT IDEAS. Throughout history, some books have changed the world. They have transformed the way we see ourselves - and each other. They have inspired debate, dissent, war and revolution. They have enlightened, outraged, provoked and comforted. They have enriched lives - and destroyed them. Now Penguin brings you the works of the great thinkers, pioneers, radicals and visionaries whose ideas shook civilization and helped make us who we are.

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Book SynopsisWhat is rational is actual and what is actual is rational.Hegel''s Outlines of the Philosophy of Right is one of the greatest works of moral, social, and political philosophy. It contains significant ideas on justice, moral responsibility, family life, economic activity, and the political structure of the state - all matters of profound interest to us today. Hegel''s aim is to lay out the various forms that human freedom must take on, if it is to be true freedom. He seeks to show that genuine human freedom does not consist in doing whatever we please, but involves living with others in accordance with publicly recognized rights and laws. Hegel demonstrates that institutions such as the family and the state provide the context in which individuals can flourish and enjoy full freedom. He also demonstrates that misunderstanding the true nature of freedom can lead to crime, evil, and poverty. His penetrating analysis of the causes of poverty in modern civil society was to be a great influence on Karl Marx. Hegel''s study remains one of the most subtle and perceptive accounts of freedom that we possess. This new edition combines a revised translation with a cogent introduction to his work. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World''s Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford''s commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.Trade Reviewa valuable contribution to our understanding of Hegel's political thought. * D.N Byrne, History of Political Thought *

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Book SynopsisElizabeth Barnes argues compellingly that disability is primarily a social phenomenona way of being a minority, a way of facing social oppression, but not a way of being inherently or intrinsically worse off. This is how disability is understood in the Disability Rights and Disability Pride movements; but there is a massive disconnect with the way disability is typically viewed within analytic philosophy. The idea that disability is not inherently bad or sub-optimal is one that many philosophers treat with open skepticism, and sometimes even with scorn. The goal of this book is to articulate and defend a version of the view of disability that is common in the Disability Rights movement. Elizabeth Barnes argues that to be physically disabled is not to have a defective body, but simply to have a minority body.Trade ReviewI am happy to unequivocally say that this text makes a fascinating and groundbreaking contribution to feminist and disability philosophy. I would enthusiastically recommend this text to anyone interested in disability and philosophy, and especially to those new to philosophy. * Tessa-May Zirnsak, Metapsychology Online Reviews *Elizabeth Barnes' new book offers a much-needed philosophical discussion of disability capitalizing on relevant research in bioethics, feminist philosophy and disability studies. * Elena Fell and Natalia Lukianova, The Philosophical Quarterly *Elizabeth Barnes has written an interesting and important book about disability . . . Barnes has brought a new level of precision to a popular slogan and has then set about defending it with all the familiar tools of contemporary analytic philosophy . . . it remains to be seen where the debate goes next, but wherever it goes, future discussion will need to engage with the work of Elizabeth Barnes. * Jennifer Hawkins, Ethics *It is a thoughtful, thorough, and rigorous argument that nevertheless has an accessible style. It is not a book for a generalist audience, but could work quite readily in both undergraduate and graduate courses. Her attempt to moderate a path between the physical body and social constructivism, and to combat a generalized skepticism in the field of philosophy about the possibility that disability might be a good thing for some people, or at least a neutral thing, that lives of disabled persons are generally as rich, valuable, and worth living as those of nondisabled persons, and that such skepticism is "rooted in--often knee-jerk unreflective--stereotypes about what disabled lives are like" is an unapologetic and strong case for disability positivity. It is a valuable contribution to disability philosophy in particular, and philosophy in general. * Nancy J. Hirschmann, Hypatia Reviews *The Minority Body is a fascinating and compelling study of the concept of disability. Barnes redefines disability as a social phenomenon in a fresh way. Her revolutionary ideas compel us to look at the minority body without making value-judgments. * The Washington Book Review *In her engaging, powerfully argued, and good-humored book, Barnes seeks to illuminate the nature of physical disability, challenge the view that it has a negative impact on well-being, and defend a mere-difference view of disability . . . it is a wildly creative, rigorous, and ground-breaking work that represents a significant contribution to the on-going inquiry into the nature and value of disability. It would not be an exaggeration to claim that it is the most important single-authored book in philosophy of disability to come out of the analytic tradition in a generation. * Stephen M. Campbell & Joseph A. Stramondo, Notre Dame Philosophical Review *Table of ContentsPreface Introduction 1: Constructing Disability 2: Bad-difference/Mere-difference 3: The Value-Neutral Model 4: Taking Their Word for It 5: Causing Disability 6: Disability Pride

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

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

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Book SynopsisFor decades, framing an issue as a human rights' issue carried certain power and effect in politics and international relations, one that has been challenged by the recent rise of populist political forces. Ford explores the recent impact of populist politics on the universalist human rights project, in particular, how scholars have framed and responded to this challenge.Ford offers a provocation to the human rights movement. Rather than what have populists done to human rights?', it asks how did we, the human rights movement, do this to ourselves?' How did fundamental protections for all become so easily scapegoated as us and them,' as claims of small, often foreign, minorities? Did human rights lose some vital connection to ordinary people's interests, their value taken as obvious and self-explanatory?Looking forward, the book asks how in a post-truth fake news' world we might reimagine human rights as underpinning human flourishing as well as important constraintsTrade Review"A scholarly, sophisticated and clear-headed analysis of the real impact of the last decade’s global ‘populist backlash’ against human rights, and the appropriate response by advocates for still-admirable universal principles. Ford challenges us, in effect, to be more introspective and less insulting – to rethink our inclination to blame the ‘deplorables’ for what too often have been shortcomings in our own sensitivity and priority-setting. It’s a timely wake-up call."Gareth Evans, Former Australian Foreign Minister, President Emeritus of the International Crisis Group, author of The Responsibility to Protect: Ending Mass Atrocity Crimes Once and For All, Distinguished Honorary Professor at the Australian National University‘The rise of human rights and the decline of colonialism, along with the prohibition on the use of force, were among the signature achievements of international law in the twentieth century. Yet the twenty-first has seen the rise of populist political forces that challenge human rights in form and substance, including explicit denunciations of that discourse by leaders of countries that were once among its greatest champions. In this book, Jolyon Ford examines populism and its impact on human rights, as well as how scholars and activists can and should respond. Importantly, that response goes beyond a counter-populist agenda and embraces the opportunity for a critical evaluation not only of what populism has done to human rights, but also what it has revealed.’Simon Chesterman, Vice Provost (Educational Innovation), National University of Singapore‘The human rights movement has often not reacted well to criticism. This is particularly true of its response to populism. While populism confronts human rights with a great many challenges, it also provides an opportunity for those of us who continue to support human rights with an opportunity to radically evaluate what we stand for and why. This book offers a thoughtful and accessible scholarly tool for undertaking the kind of constructively critical self-analysis the human rights movement urgently needs to engage in. I recommend it to anyone who cares about human rights and social justice.’Andrew Fagan, Essex Law School, Director, Human Rights CentreTable of ContentsIntroduction Questions to explore Outline of the book Caveat, clarification, caution I Patterns: ‘Populism’ and its claimed impact on human rights in recent times Defining ‘populism’ Backslide Backlash II Problems: Putting the ‘populist challenge’ narrative in perspective Couching the ‘populist era’ in some historical perspective Enduring critiques or drawbacks of the human rights project ‘Distortive’ ‘Disconnected’ ‘Delegitimised’ III Progress?: Evaluating proposals to counter populism and revitalise human rights Reframing ‘Populist backlash’ as blindness ‘Populist backlash’ as distraction ‘Populist backlash’ as window (of opportunity) Reviewing Prescriptions advanced for revitalisating human rights Evaluating prescriptions for revitalisating human rights Recalculating Are human rights still powerful? A persistent belief in the rights frame Great expectations? Questions of substance versus form Conclusion Index

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Book SynopsisHolocaust denial, racism, genocide of indigenous peoples and the long-lasting harms inflicted by colonialism pose deep challenges to any idea of a common humanity. How can we include these and countless other examples of evil within our vision of a shared morality? These painful human incongruities are precisely what Raimond Gaita boldly harmonizes in A Common Humanity.Hatred with forgiveness, evil with love, suffering with compassion, and the mundane with the precious. Gaita asserts that our conception of humanity cannot be based upon the empty language of individual rights when it is our shared feelings of grief, hope, love, guilt, shame and remorse that offer a more potent foundation for common understanding.Drawing on the work of Hannah Arendt, Simon Weil, Primo Levi and Iris Murdoch, amongst others, Gaita creates a beautifully written and provocative new picture of our common humanity.This Routledge Classics edition includes a new Preface and a substantial Postscript by the author, in which he revisits some of the main themes of A Common Humanity and engages with responses to it since it was first published.

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Book SynopsisItalian philosophy constitutes one of the most vibrant and fruitful areas in contemporary thought, bringing extraordinary novelty to some of the oldest tropes, from human nature to the relation between political power and life, the thinking of actuality and potential, and the nature of work and labour. This reader includes texts by the most renowned thinkers, from Dante and Machiavelli to Giorgio Agamben, Antonio Negri, and Roberto Esposito, all of which are introduced by an expert on the particular thinker, and situated within the context of their work as a whole.The Bloomsbury Italian Philosophy Reader provides a unique resource for students and scholars alike, covering the history of Italian thought to the present day.Trade ReviewThis welcome volume cohesively brings together some of the major thinkers of the history of Italian philosophy, from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance to the contemporary period. Readings are introduced by brief informative essays written by specialists that act as useful philosophical mind-maps for readers. The excerpts from primary writings capture central positions and ideas that have come to shape and influence readers and thinkers from around the world. The book helps provide an important survey of the rich and varied schools that have come to form Italian philosophy. * Antonio Calcagno, Professor and Chair of Philosophy, King’s University College at Western University, Canada *This volume brings welcome attention to an important tradition in Continental Philosophy which has too often remained in the shadows of its French and German neighbours. Italian philosophy appears here as political, practical, and transformative; intimately close to the concerns of life. * Ashley Woodward, Senior Lecturer in Philosophy, University of Dundee, Scotland *Table of ContentsIntroduction, Michael Lewis and David Rose (University of Newcastle upon Tyne, UK) Part I: The Historical Context 1. Dante 2. Pico della Mirandola 3. Niccolò Machiavelli 4. Giordano Bruno 5. Giambattista Vico 6. Benedetto Croce 7. Giovanni Gentile 8. Antonio Gramsci 9. Phenomenology and Marxism in Milan 10. Luigi Pareyson Part II: Contemporary thinkers 11. Giorgio Agamben 12. Massimo Cacciari 13. Adriana Cavarero 14. Roberto Esposito 15. Silvia Federici 16. Maurizio Ferraris 17. Simona Forti 18. Maurizio Lazzarato 19. Christian Marazzi 20. Luisa Muraro 21. Antonio Negri 22. Massimo Recalcati 23. Emanuele Severino 24. Davide Tarizzo 25. Mario Tronti 26. Gianni Vattimo 27. Paolo Virno Timeline Index

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Book SynopsisThe figure of the mistress is undoubtedly controversial. She provokes intense reactions, ranging from fear, to disgust and revulsion, to excitement and titillation, to sadness and perhaps to some, love. The mistress is conventionally depicted as a threat to moral living and someone whose sexuality is considered defective and toxic. Of course, she is a woman that you would not have as your friend, and certainly not your wife, since her ethical sense, if she even has one, is dubious at best. This book subverts these traditional judgements and offers an unflinching look at the lived experience of the mistress. Here she is recast as a potentially loving, free, intimate other' woman. Drawing upon feminist philosophy, contemporary sexual ethics and the current cultural moment of #MeToo, Mistress Ethics moves beyond a narrative of infidelity, conventional judgment, the safeguarding of monogamy and conventional heterosex that permeates our society. It asks what happens when we let go oTrade ReviewA stunning critique of the ethics of both monogamous and non-monogamous relationships, offering radical alternatives from those ‘spies in the house of love’ who occupy the spaces in between. Deftly weaving together personal stories and political analysis, Mistress Ethics is a courageous, compelling, and - above all - deeply kind book. * Meg-John Barker, Author of “Life Isn’t Binary: On Being Both, Beyond, and In-Between” *An original, radical book. Academically rigorous, yet an entertaining read. It dares to start a new conversation about an experience previously unexplored in philosophy and to humanise instead of judge. * Andy West, Author of “The Life Inside: A Memoir of Prison, Philosophy and Family” *Brooks offers a stepping stone along the path towards a more sexually flexible future. While the book does not convince that cheating will ever be right, this is a fascinating look into a demonized archetype in sexuality. * Stoya, Actress and Writer, Author of “Philosophy, Pussycats, and Porn” *Table of ContentsPreface Acknowledgements Introductions: Sex, Ethics and Mistresses Chapter 1: Why Do We Hate Mistresses Or Why You Should Never Assume Chapter 2: Slut! Who Is She And How Is She Made? Chapter 3: #MeToo, Marriage And Power: What Kind Of Men Have Mistresses And How Are They Treated? Chapter 4: What Is The Sex Like? Chapter 5: Bisexual, Queer And Kinky Mistresses Chapter 6: If Polygamy Is Not The Answer, What Is? Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisThe undead are neither alive nor dead. They are animate yet non-living. In God Is Undead, Lorenzo Chiesa and Adrian Johnston contend that true unbelief today sees the divine precisely as exemplifying such undeath. In God Is Undead, Chiesa and Johnston delve into and deepen the insights of both Freudian and Lacanian psychoanalysis as regards unbelief. This analytic perspective reveals that modern atheisms appealing to a scientific worldview as an antidote to orthodox religious faith end up as heterodox theisms of Nature, Reason, Knowledge, or even the Market itself. They ironically place new gods of their own atop the graves of the traditional gods of old. They likewise forget the religious influences underlying modern science. One of the most important and novel contributions of God Is Undead is its gesture of dignifying unbelief as something that is able to contain multitudes. Far from a unified, homogeneous, and flatly bleak position, irreligiosity can come in many forms wh

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Book SynopsisThis collection of essays considers the contribution of Deleuze and Guattari's philosophical ideas in forging a critique of global terror and counter-terror.

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Book SynopsisPower is a pervasive phenomenon yet there is little consensus on what it is and how it should be understood. In this book the cultural theorist Byung-Chul Han develops a fresh and original perspective on the nature of power, shedding new light on this key feature of social and political life. Power is commonly defined as a causal relation: an individual’s power is the cause that produces a change of behaviour in someone else against the latter’s will. Han rejects this view, arguing that power is better understood as a mediation between ego and alter which creates a complex array of reciprocal interdependencies. Power can also be exercised not only against the other but also within and through the other, and this involves a much higher degree of mediation. This perspective enables us to see that power and freedom are not opposed to one another but are manifestations of the same power, differing only in the degree of mediation. This highly original account of power will be of great interest to students and scholars of philosophy and of social, political and cultural theory, as well as to anyone seeking to understand the many ways in which power shapes our lives today.Trade Review"On an itinerary driven by unusual intellectual independence and perfect argumentative transparency, Byung-Chul Han may have reached the level of true philosophical mastership. Based on a circumspect discussion of the positions marked by some classical thinkers of modernity, What is Power? develops a new vision of the asymmetries produced by human interaction and thus lives up to the promise to 'deprive power of that power it has on account of the fact that we do not fully understand what it actually is.'"—Hans Ulrich Gumbrecht, Stanford University "The new star of German philosophy."—El País "It's no exaggeration to say that Han is one of the most relevant philosophers of our age, able to make diagnoses when other philosophers, particularly knee-jerk Foucauldian social critics in America, have trouble even seeing an illness. What is Power? is an important document of a philosopher still developing, still growing, though it's nevertheless interesting in its own right. Han's flops are better than most other philosophers' greatest hits."—The American ConservativeTable of ContentsPreface vii 1. The Logic of Power 1 2. The Semantics of Power 22 3. The Metaphysics of Power 41 4. The Politics of Power 61 5. The Ethics of Power 80 Notes 98 Bibliography 123

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Book SynopsisInspired by the fate of Julia and Winston under the watchful eyes of Big Brother of George Orwell’s 1984, Docteur Cybirdy has compiled an eclectic blend of quotes, briefs and rhapsodies: 84-19 Rhapsodies & Co from I Naming and shaming world leaders, casting light on post-genomic science, and highlighting the main triggers of the inhuman aspect of the Covid era. With courage, Docteur Cybirdy reveals her thoughts and intimate beliefs, prompting an urgent review of the role of post-genomic science in today’s world, while instilling hope for a peaceful and serene future for humanity.

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Book SynopsisLarge sections of democracy and its basic structures have recently been hijacked. By stealth, powerful elites have gradually gained control of the political sphere and transformed it to serve their own interests. The political systems of what appear to be established democracies in all corners of the world are showing signs of this takeover, which has led to widespread citizen disaffection and indignation. Kidnapped Democracy uses the metaphor of captivity to illustrate the differences and similarities between conventional kidnappings and the hijacking of a political system. The book’s nine chapters identify the kidnappers, the accomplices, the hostages, the victims and the negotiators before examining the effect of a peculiar Stockholm syndrome and, finally, reflecting on possible ways to secure the release of democracy.Trade ReviewA provocative reflection on the kidnapping of democracy that offers novel insights on debates that have been occupying critical thinkers for centuries, while providing a cogent critique of the state of democracy today. A valuable and original contribution to scholarship. -- Cristina Flesher Fominaya, Reader in Social Politics and Media, Loughborough University; Editor-in-Chief of Social Movement StudiesDemocracies are sadly capitulating, with disastrous consequences in terms of democratic accountability, quality of governance and equality. This insightful and beautifully written book must be read as an awakening call, a necessary and timely reminder that the fate of democracy lies with the unfettered determination of citizens to unmask the complex network of 'masters' that are stripping democracy of its representative identity. -- Kerman Calvo Borobia, Senior Lecturer in Sociology, University of Salamanca, SpainRamón Feenstra takes seriously the kidnap analogy as a conceptual tool with which to dissect the predicament of present-day democracies, engaging provocatively and meticulously with the identity, interests and strategies of both kidnappers and hostages, and the complex relationship between them, which culminates in a predictable and dramatic Stockholm syndrome. For how long will we be complacent, and will we justify the kidnap of our democracies and our lack of say in what happens to us? -- Sonia Alonso Saenz De Oger, Associate Professor of Government at Georgetown University School of Foreign Service, QatarThis is a wonderful book. Kidnapping is a very strong metaphor to understand the democratic deficits of our time. Moreover, this is the right self-help book for victimized citizens to overcome their Stockholm syndrome and to develop democratizing practices. -- Paul Dekker, Professor of Civil Society, Tilburg University, The NetherlandsTable of ContentsIntroduction Chapter 1: Raising the Alarm Chapter 2: The Hostages (I): Political Parties and Governments Chapter 3: The Hostages (II): The Mass Media Chapter 4: The Hostages (III): Trade Unions Chapter 5: Hostages or Accomplices? Chapter 6: The Kidnappers Chapter 7: Victims’ Response: From Stockholm Syndrome to Defiance Chapter 8: Negotiators Chapter 9: The Struggle for Liberation References About the Author Index

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Book SynopsisA practical and uplifting vision of better ways to live together, own property, have families and raise children, from the author of Why Women Have Better Sex Under Socialism.'Kristen Ghodsee is back with another splendid insight: utopia can and ought to be an everyday thing. In every home. Invigorating writing for a cheerless era' YANIS VAROUFAKIS'History is made by the dreamers ... A must-read' THOMAS PIKETTY---The traditional 'nuclear' family home is a problem: it places unfair and unnecessary burdens on women (and men too), it entrenches inequalities, it entraps us financially and it hinders certain kinds of child development. Also, it doesn't seem to make us very happy.And yet throughout history and around the world today, forward-thinking communities have pioneered alternative ways of living - from the all-female 'beguinages' of medieval Belgium to the matriarchal ecovillages of contemporary Colombia; from the ancient Greek commune founded by Pythagoras, where men and women lived as equals and shared property, to present-day Connecticut, where new laws make it easier for extra 'alloparents' to help raise children not their own. Some of these experiments burned brightly and briefly; others are living proof of what is possible.Everyday Utopia upends our assumptions and raises our sights by gathering these and many more inspiring examples together, arguing that many of the most important and effective ways of changing our lives and the world are to be found in the home. The result is a radically hopeful and practical vision of more connected - and contented - ways of living.'Liberating and inspirational, a sweeping feminist history of society at its most creative' ADA CALHOUN, author of Why We Can't SleepTrade ReviewHistory is made by the dreamers ... A must-read -- THOMAS PIKETTY, author of A Brief History of EqualityJust wonderful -- ANGELA SAINI, author of The PatriarchsThis warm, intelligent and lucid book takes us on a deep dive into how people have created better systems for living – systems that actually work -- ROBERT WALDINGER, author of The Good Life and director of the Harvard Study of Adult DevelopmentExhilarating. A powerful reminder that dreaming of better worlds is not just some fantastical project but also a very serious political one -- REBECCA TRAISTER, author of Good and MadKristen Ghodsee is back with another splendid insight: utopia can and ought to be an everyday thing. In every home. Invigorating writing for a cheerless era -- YANIS VAROUFAKIS, author of TechnofeudalismLiberating and inspirational ... Kristen Ghodsee's sweeping feminist history of society at its most creative -- ADA CALHOUN, author of Why We Can't SleepA vision of what could be our future if we dare to dream -- SUSAN NEIMAN, author of Left Is Not WokeCompelling ... spirited and inspiring * Jacobin *

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Book SynopsisWas Marx himself a 'Marxist'? Was his visionary promise of socialism betrayed by Marxist dictatorship? Is Marxism inevitably totalitarian? What did Marx really say? "Introducing Marxism" provides a fundamental account of Karl Marx's original philosophy, its roots in 19th century European ideology, his radical economic and social criticism of capitalism that inspired vast 20th century revolutions. It assesses Marxism's Russian disciples, Lenin, Trotsky and Stalin who forged a ruthless dogmatic Communism. The book examines the alternative Marxist approaches of Gramsci, the Frankfurt School of critical theory and the structuralist Marxism of Althusser in the 1960s. It marshals postmodern interpretations of Marxism and raises the spectre of 'post-Marxism' in Derrida's confrontation with Fukuyama's 'end of history' doctrine.

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Book SynopsisWhat with machine learning and deep learning, chat bots and robots, generative AI and deep fakes, the modern landscape of artificial intelligence is suddenly a very real place to explore. But how are you expected to navigate this exciting and potentially terrifying new world? Navigating Artificial Intelligence provides the map you need to start exploring some seriously big ideas. Provocative questions prompt short cut' answers written by an expert author, with each one the setting-off point for instructions to help you plot your path through the potential, and potential pitfalls, of AI. With one-stop' graphics signposting a memorable or metaphorical idea for each topic, and route map' glossaries explaining key terms and their connections, this is your expert guide to discovering whether AI is the start of a brave new world, or the beginning of the end for humankind.

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Book SynopsisFriedrich Nietzsche's philosophical work Beyond Good and Evil questions conventional morality and intellectual assumptions. According to Nietzsche, conventional morality, which is founded on cultural and religious conventions, is constrictive and inhibits people from completely expressing who they really are. According to Nietzsche's will to power theory, people naturally want to use their power and influence to influence others. He also presents the notion of the superman, a mythical being free to choose their own moral standards and transcend conventional morality. Nietzsche criticises standard philosophical notions like the concept of truth and the notion of free will throughout the whole book. He contends that reality is relative and dependent on one's viewpoint, and that free will is an illusion produced by our need for control. While Beyond Good and Evil is difficult to read, it is nonetheless a significant contribution to contemporary philosophy. It inspires people to reconsider their convictions and look for a more genuine and satisfying existence outside of conventional cultural conventions.

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Book Synopsis24 years after the fall of the Berlin Wall, Europe is as divided as ever. The passengers of the low-budget airlines go east for stag parties, and they go West for work; but the East stays East, and West stays West. Caricatures abound - the Polish plumber in the tabloids, the New Cold War in the broadsheets and the endless search for 'the new Berlin' for hipsters. Against the stereotypes, Agata Pyzik peers behind the curtain to take a look at the secret histories of Eastern Europe (and its tortured relations with the 'West'). Neoliberalism and mass migration, post-punk and the Bowiephile obsession with the Eastern Bloc, Orientalism and 'self-colonization', the emancipatory potentials of Socialist Realism, the possibility of a non-Western idea of modernity and futurism, and the place of Eastern Europe in any current revival of 'the idea of communism' - all are much more complex and surprising than they appear. Poor But Sexy refuses both a dewy-eyed Ostalgia for the 'good old days' and the equally desperate desire to become a 'normal part of Europe', reclaiming instead the idea an Other Europe.Trade ReviewA necessary corrective to the paper-thin portrayal of Eastern Europe by Western media. Pyzik's writing is clear, direct, knowledgeable - and partisan, in the best sense of the word. --Daniel Trilling, author of Bloody Nasty People: The Rise of Britain's Far Right.

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Book SynopsisWith over 750 authoritative entries covering all areas of critical theory, this dictionary is an essential reference work for anyone needing a clear guide to theory, from feminism to globalization, from Marxism to psychoanalysis. This edition is fully revised and updated.Table of ContentsIntroduction A-Z Recommended web links

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Book SynopsisTwenty-five years after his prescient Democracy’s Discontent, Michael Sandel updates his classic work for our more fractious age. He shows how, since the 1990s, Democrats and Republicans embraced a market faith that led to the toxic politics of our time. To rescue democracy, he argues, we must reimagine the economy and revitalize the civic project.Trade ReviewAmericans have lost faith in the possibility of self-government, and they are frightened by the disintegration of community they see happening all around them. Twenty-six years since Democracy’s Discontent was first published, Sandel writes that this way of thinking has brought us to a political precipice—a moment when the combination of frayed social bonds and intense political polarization calls into question the very future of the American experiment. -- Win McCormack * New Republic *Few books are as relevant a quarter-century after their appearance as when published—but Michael Sandel has made his classic Democracy’s Discontent even more so. Rethinking how the political economy of the middle of the twentieth century has mutated to the detriment of American citizenship, substituting consumerism and globalization for community and self-rule, this is a touchstone study for our times. -- Samuel Moyn, author of Not Enough: Human Rights in an Unequal WorldMichael Sandel’s deeply insightful analysis of the erosion of the political economy of citizenship has never been more timely than at the present moment. Essential—and ultimately hopeful—reading for all those who wonder if our democratic experiment will survive in the twenty-first century. -- Greta R. Krippner, author of Capitalizing on Crisis: The Political Origins of the Rise of Finance

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Book SynopsisTaking full extent of S.R. Slings' new Greek text of the Republic, Reeve has given us a translation at once both accurate and limpid. Loving attention to detail and deep familiarity with Plato's thought are evident on every page.Trade Review"Taking full advantage of S. R. Slings' new Greek text of the Republic, Reeve has given us a translation both accurate and limpid. Loving attention to detail and deep familiarity with Plato's thought are evident on every page. Reeve's brilliant decision to cast the dialogue into direct speech produces a compelling impression of immediacy unmatched by other English translations currently available." —Lloyd P. Gerson, University of Toronto"Reeve's new translation can be highly recommended for its accurate and readable rendering of the original. . . . Those who read the Republic for the first time or for pleasure are sure to find this the most attractive and accessible translation currently available." —Naoko Yamagata, in Journal of Classics Teaching"David Reeve's long and devoted engagement with Plato's Republic, evidenced in his highly-regarded revision of George Grube's translation, issues now in a completely new translation of his own. In this version, Socrates' narration of his conversation with Glaucon and Adeimantus et al. is converted so far as possible into dramatically gripping and effective direct speech. Its increased accessibility promises to make it the number-one choice for undergraduate courses." —John Cooper, Princeton University "Reeve's new translation of Plato's Republic will be of value both to students approaching the work for the first time and, and a handy version for the more advanced reader. The translation is solid, the format and scholarly apparatus make it very accessible." —Thomas Cooksey, in The Classical OutlookTable of ContentsPreface. Acknowledgements; Maps. Genealogical Charts. Time Line; SELECTIONS: Acusilaus; Aelian; Aeschylus; Andron; Antoninus Liberalis; Apollodorus; Archilochus; Arrian; Babrius; Bacchylides; Bion; Callimachus; Cleanthes; Conon; Cornutus; Critias; Diodorus of Sicily; Eratosthenes; Euripides; Fulgentius; Hellanicus; Heraclitus; Herodorus; Herodotus; Hesiod; The Homeric Hymns; Horace; Hyginus; Longus; Lucian; Lucretius; Ovid; Palaephatus; Parthenius; Pausanias; Pherecydes; Pindar; Plato; Plutarch; Proclus; Sallustius; Sappho; Semonides; Simonides; Sophocles; Statius; Theocritus; Theophrastus; Thucydides; Vergil; Xenophanes; Xenophon; Appendix One: Linear B Sources (by Thomas G. Palaima); Appendix Two: Inscriptions; Appendix Three: Papyri; Note on Texts and Translations. Names and Transliterations. Index/Glossary.

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Each of the chapters of this erudite and breezy . . . tract begins with a series of assertions about Marx and Marxism, which Eagleton then proceeds to debunk . . . through excursions into philosophy, political practice and literary analogy. . . . Polemically charged and enjoyable."—Guardian"A lively defense. . . . Eagleton offers a richer, more complex and nuanced picture of the father of modern socialism. . . . Throughout, the author is witty, entertaining, and incisive."—Publishers Weekly“Not so much a good read as a romp, this is an irresistibly lively, and thought-provoking essay.”—Michael Kerrigan, Scotsman"A short, witty, and highly accessible jaunt through Marx’s thought in preparation for the second coming."—Frank Barry, Irish Times"Why Marx Was Right is no abstract argumentation but an eloquent, fact-based rebuttal of the usual criticisms of Marxism."—John Green, Morning Star"This is a wonderful book that every socialist should have on their bookshelves."—Gareth Jenkins, Socialist Worker"Why Marx Was Right is designed for a wide audience and deserves one. With flair, sparkling wit, and no fear of vigorous rebuttal, Eagleton's book seeks to address some of the most often heard criticisms of Marx and Marxist thought. . . . Terry Eagleton has taken much of the best the Marxist tradition has to offer in thinking about class, nature, revolution, history, and many such grand subjects, and summarized it briefly with clarity, intelligence, and a sense of humor. And for this he deserves our thanks."—Matthijs Krul, Marx & Philosophy Review of Books"Refreshing and challenging. . . . [A] most compelling read."—Michael O’Sullivan, Tablet (Books of the Year)"Terry Eagleton takes on some of the most common objections to Marxism and answers each in turn, in a clear, non-technical and often humorous way."—London Review of Books “Much of it is illuminating” —Jonathan Wolff, Times Literary Supplement

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Book SynopsisVery Short Introductions: Brilliant, Sharp, Inspiring John Stuart Mill (1806-73) is widely regarded as the leading liberal philosopher, economist, and political theorist of nineteenth century Britain. In his lifetime he was best known for his System of Logic (1843) and the Principles of Political Economy (1848). Today Mill is chiefly identified with On Liberty (1859), perhaps the definitive text of modern liberal statement of its subject, and probably the single most important work of modern political thought. Mill was also the first major male feminist thinker of the period (author of The Subjection of Women, 1869), and the first, as an MP, to introduce a bill for female enfranchisement before Parliament.This Very Short Introduction offers a brief survey of the life and key ideas of this most influential Victorian British writer. Moving chronologically, Gregory Claeys outlines the philosophical background out of which Mill developed, chiefly through the ideas of Jeremy Bentham and James Mill. He demonstrates how Mill''s personal life, especially his ''mental crisis'' of 1827, and his relationship with Harriet Taylor, were integral to his intellectual development. Throughout Claeys considers Mill''s key works set within the context of his lesser writings and correspondence, and discusses the more controversial aspects of his thought concerning religion, secularism, and birth control. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.Trade ReviewBy placing Mill's philosophy in other perspectives, in the context of moments ranging from its genesis to its last writings, with new associations, Gregory Claeys offers the reader a brilliant reconstruction of this philosophy, allowing him to find all of it the power. The inevitable repetitions of themes throughout the book are ultimately instructive and even necessary for this brief introduction, contributing to the clarity of the text and the presentation of the subjects treated. * Beatriz Laporta, Archives de philosophie *Table of ContentsPreface 1: An uneventful life 2: Remaking radicalism 1835-45 3: Political economy and social philosophy 1845-1859 4: The values of On Liberty (1859) 5: Later writings 1861-79 6: Mill today Further Reading Index

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Book SynopsisTrade Review“The arrival of Mehlman and Leavitt’s new translation is, then, an event. Finally, there is a fresh, agile English rendering of one of the 20th century’s greatest, strangest and most challenging works.” * London Review of Books *"An accessible new translation of the modern classic by the predominant theorist of structural anthropology, this tome displaced Western culture’s sense of its own superiority and showed the structural unity of human intellect." * The Bookseller *"The new title points to what the book subverts, namely the assumption that societies described as ‘primitive’ are intellectually undeveloped. Lévi-Srauss shows, on the contrary, an equality in their compulsion to observe and record distinctions and patterns." * The Prisma *“This new translation of Lévi-Strauss’s masterpiece is a revelation. To read Wild Thought is to marvel in the curiosity not only of its illustrious author but also of the countless people whose conceptual wizardry spills out onto the pages. In engaging and delightful prose, Wild Thought lets Anglophone readers at last relish the sheer joyousness and ingenuity of an unparalleled intellectual adventure.” * Tim Ingold, University of Aberdeen *“At last, a definitive and extensively annotated translation of Lévi-Strauss’s prescient La Pensée sauvage. Cultivating wild forms of thought is more important today than Lévi-Strauss could ever have imagined.” * Eduardo Kohn, McGill University *“Wild Thought marks the turning point in Lévi-Strauss's long career, opening the way for his monumental analysis of the mythology of the Americas. But above all, it is the book that put anthropology at the forefront of the human sciences, by methodically dissolving the evolutionist and colonialist presuppositions of the whole metaphysical machinery of Reason, History, and Progress. This much-needed new English translation will reintroduce Lévi-Strauss's essential work for the next generation of scholars and expert anthropologists alike.” * Eduardo Viveiros de Castro, National Museum of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro *“Wild Thought is a fantastic rendering—a timely translation for anthropology’s most timeless mind.” * Matthew Engelke, Columbia University *Table of ContentsTranslators’ Introductionby John Leavitt Prospectus for La Pensée sauvage, 1962 Preface 1 The Science of the Concrete 2 The Logic of Totemic Classifications 3 Systems of Transformation 4 Totem and Caste 5 Categories, Elements, Species, Numbers 6 Universalization and Particularization 7 The Individual as Species 8 Time Regained 9 History and Dialectic Appendix: On the Wild Pansy Bibliography Notes to the Translation Index

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Book SynopsisAn in-depth analysis that demonstrates how and why there has been a resurgence of nativist logic.It was once thought that liberalism and globalization would consign nativist logics to the fringes of societies and eventually to history. But if it ever left, nativism has well and truly returned, spreading across nations, across the political spectrum, and from the fringes back into the mainstream. In The Return of the Native, Jan Willem Duyvendak, Josip Kesic, and Timothy Stacey explore how nativist logics have infiltrated liberal settings and discourses, primarily in the Netherlands as well as other countries with strong liberal traditions like the US and France. They deconstruct and explain the underlying logic of nativist narratives and show how these narratives are emerging in the discourses of secularism (a religious nativism that problematizes Islam and Muslims), racism (a racial nativism that problematizes black anti-racism), populism (a populist nativism that problematizes elitesTrade ReviewHow are we to understand and respond to the expansion of nativism across the globe? In their brilliant appraisal of 'a nativist logic' in the Netherlands, France, and the US, the authors conclude with wise -- and urgent -- advice for liberals. Structural shifts are behind this turn, they argue, but what counts more is narrative. And liberals need to work on theirs. Get curious about how a narrative works, how it appeals to our yearning to belong. Try creating a liberal narrative which invites the listener into a home which has the feel of comfort with difference-in race, creed, national origin, sexual orientation-and even difference in political opinion. Civilization is a work in progress, and this book helps us do that work." -Arlie Russell Hochschild, Professor Emerita of Sociology, University of California Berkeley, and author of Strangers in Their Own Land: Anger and Mourning on the American RightThe Return of the Native is a well-informed, ambitious, and surprising comparative study of nativism and how it shapes boundaries toward racial and religious minorities and women, by mobilizing shared values of enlightenment and tolerance, inherited from liberalism. The authors do a splendid job at presenting a complex thesis clearly and convincingly. This book will certainly have a significant impact on scholarly exchanges around these topics for time to come." -Michèle Lamont, Robert I. Goldman Professor of European Studies and Professor of Sociology and of African and African American Studies, Harvard University, and author of The Dignity of Working Men: Morality and the Boundaries of Race, Class and ImmigrationIn this path-breaking work, the authors argue for the growing importance of nativism, or the opposition to an internal minority because of its foreignness. Nativism rests on a naturalized link between a category of people and a particular place that supports claims to prerogatives and rights-and exclusion of the non-native. Beginning with the Dutch case, the authors examine how nativism interacts with racism, nationalism, populism, and, in today's European context, Islamophobia. They draw on decades of collaborative work to explore the several iterations of nativism across countries, and attune us to the dangers of its left-liberal forms, which trumpet the superiority of one's own national values. They also set out ways to promote an alternative vision, that of a liberal politics of belonging. A clear analysis of ideas and forces that trouble the politics of today." -John R. Bowen, Dunbar-Van Cleve Professor, Washington University, and author of Can Islam Be French?The book is valuable addition to the field for its eloquent conceptualization of nativism, thereby systematically differentiating it from other similar outlooks such as populism or racism. Following an articulate unpacking of the concept, the book duly recognizes the fundamental human need to belong, which does not have to be ascribed along reactionary lines. The authors provide stimulating accounts to substantiate the frames presented, the interplay between the "national rebirth" thesis and the Black Lives Matter movement promoting a decolonizing re-reading of history in the Netherlands being a case in point. In short, the book offers a convincing depiction of the power of nativism in political discourse, demonstrating the mechanisms through which nativist logic has become mainstream even in liberal democracies. * Ipek Demirsu, Ethnic and Racial Studies *The book draws on cutting-edge social scientific work; its principal audience will be researchers, professors, and graduate students, but it is accessible to advanced undergraduates as well. * Choice *Table of ContentsAcknowledgements Chapter 1. Nativism: What is Returning, Where, and Why? (with Timothy Stacey) Chapter 2. Mythical Multiculturalism Chapter 3. Nativist Memory of National History Chapter 4. Religious Nativism Chapter 5. Racial Nativism Chapter 6. Populist Nativism Chapter 7. Liberal Left Nativism (with Timothy Stacey) Chapter 8. Where and Why Liberalism and Nativism have become Entwined (with Timothy Stacey) Chapter 9. How Can Liberals Counter Nativism? (with Timothy Stacey) Post-Script: How the Book was Forged References Index

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"A Financial Times Best Book of the Year: Economics""The roots of both the market economy and the democratic state lie in liberalism. In this remarkable book, Kahan recounts in persuasive detail the history of this transformative set of ideas."---Martin Wolf, Financial Times

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Book Synopsis'Men are infamous and detestable who are destroyers of religion, squanderers of kingdoms and republics, and enemies of the virtues.' Niccolo Machiavelli Machiavelli (1459-1527) is one of the most influential modern political thinkers. His works, above all The Prince, The Discourses on Livy, The Florentine Histories and The Art of War, are still passionately discussed and continue to give rise to new visions of political action. Against the trite commonplace that Machiavelli was a teacher of evil who justified political immorality, Maurizio Viroli shows that Machiavaelli was concerned instead with the best way to attain true glory through political action and that his works were inspired by a profound love of republican liberty. Extracts are taken from the whole corpus of Machiavelli's works, including his personal letters.

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Book SynopsisIn our brave new world of Big Tech, work is automated and money melts into air. What comes next as the global capitalist edifice crumbles? Slavoj Žižek shows how the answer is already stealing into sight, like a thief in broad daylight. What we must do is wake up and see it. ''In a world determined to crush hope of radical change, where moral corruption poses as pragmatism and systemic oppression as the new freedom, Slavoj Žižek''s excellent new book serves humanity in a way that only authentic philosophy can'' Yanis Varoufakis''The Elvis of cultural theory'' New Statesman''Master of the counterintuitive observation'' New YorkerTrade ReviewŽižek is a thinker who regards nothing as outside his field: the result is deeply interesting and provocative * Guardian *Žižek leaves no social or cultural phenomenon untheorized, and is master of the counterintuitive observation * New Yorker *In a world determined to crush hope of radical change, where moral corruption poses as pragmatism and systemic oppression as the new freedom, Slavoj Zizek's excellent new book serves humanity in a way that only authentic philosophy can -- Yanis Varoufakis

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Book SynopsisTells the biography of Karl Marx who has long been recognized as one of the best concise accounts of the life and thought of the man who had, in Berlin's words, a more "direct, deliberate, and powerful" influence on mankind than any other nineteenth-century thinker. This book introduces Marx's ideas and sets them in their context.Trade Review"A model of objective clarity."--Richard Charques, Times Literary Supplement "[Berlin's] book, a perennial classic, has all the virtues of Berlin himself: charm, erudition, and (occasionally) grandiloquence."--Peter E. Gordon, New Republic "The best brief account of the life and thought of Marx."--Saturday Review "Exceptional ... [A]s a portrait of the man and the intellectual climate of the mid-nineteenth century it is, perhaps, the finest we have."--Chimen Abramsky, Jewish Chronicle "[Berlin's] accounts of Marx's theses are sometimes more effective than Marx's own words, and his descriptions of Marx as a man are remarkably vivid."--H. B. Acton, Political Studies "Berlin's attitude to his subject is exemplary, and on the whole it is the best introduction to it that we have... [The book] makes Marx intelligible, both as a person and as a thinker."--A. L. Rowse, Political QuarterlyTable of ContentsEditor's Preface to the Fifth Edition xi Foreword by Alan Ryan xix Preface to the Fourth Edition xxix Note to the Third Edition xxxiii Note to the First Edition xxxv 1 Introduction 1 2 Childhood and Adolescence 22 3 The Philosophy of 'The Spirit' 33 4 The Young Hegelians 57 5 Paris 76 6 Historical Materialism 112 7 1848 149 8 Exile in London: The First Phase 168 9 The International 205 10 'The Red Terror Doctor' 220 11 Last Years 248 Afterword by Terrell Carver 267 Guide to Further Reading by Terrell Carver 291 Index 297

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Book Synopsis"First paperback edition, with a new preface and conclusion"--Title page verso.Trade Review“John Dunn’s book is much more than a history of democratic ideas…. [It is] among the most original and thought-provoking books on politics to have been published in England for many years, written in a spare, incisive English style which at its best is worthy of Hobbes.”—Jonathan Sumption, Spectator“A marvellously rich book.”—David Marquand, New Statesman“Stimulating and deft…. An impressive and interesting book.”—Andrew Roberts, Daily Telegraph“John Dunn has given us a rare thing: an intellectually aristocratic book written for a profoundly democratic age.”—Sunil Khilnani, Financial Times“Dunn wears his erudition lightly and writes clearly and freshly about some of politics’ most venerable questions…. Blows a gust of fresh air through the cobwebbed byways of political thought.”—John Gray, Independent

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Book SynopsisHow to Be Perfect meets The Daily Stoic in this witty, entertaining, highly giftable compendium of quotidian wisdomTrade Review'A tour de force of philosophical frivolity that enlightens as well as entertains' Philosophy Now

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"This is a well-produced, stimulating book and a worthy addition to an excellent series."---Ray Morris, Classics for All"This is wisdom down the ages." * Paradigm Explorer *

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Book SynopsisCommunication has taken on an accelerated viral character, and life is rendered ever more profitable as a simulation of itself.

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Book Synopsis An essential read for anyone who has encountered a crisis of confidence. Trade Review‘Intriguing, profound and in-depth, Charles Pépin explores every aspect of self-confidence, a central question in our lives that is more mysterious than we like to admit’ ELLE (France) ‘A bedside book for all of us here at Inter. A book full of wisdom and joy … ‘A great literary success’ France Inter ‘A worthwhile and intelligent work’ Le Figaro ‘You’ll come out of it more knowledgeable, humbler, and especially more intelligent. A must read!’ Ernest Mag ‘An inspiring reflection. A philosophy of action’ L’Express ‘Simple, well-learned, human, modern, empathetic … ‘A compassionate response to a modern question’ Europe 1 ‘Charles Pépin explores the reserves of confidence we have within us and shows us all that it is within our grasp’ Psychologies Magazine ‘A philosopher has published Self-Confidence, cracking the code to wells of inner security. The key? Daring to meet the world, accepting that the unexpected awaits: a life lesson’ Madame Figaro

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