Description
Book Synopsis* Before his sudden death in January 2015, Ulrich Beck was one of the world s foremost sociologists. This new book is the last book he wrote before his death; it was completed in December 2014 * In this book Beck introduces a new concept 'metamorphosis' to describe what is happening in our world today.
Trade Review'This book, which its author, one of the most original and perceptive thinkers of our time, was prevented from completing by a sudden catastrophe, reads as a most thorough and exhaustive – indeed complete – description of our world: a world defined by its endemic incompleteness and dedicated to resisting completion.'
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Zygmunt Bauman 'This brilliant manifesto is in good part Ulrich Beck having a debate with himself. He comes out winning, because whatever doubts or disagreements he may have with himself, he moves on, never losing sight of the foundational distinction he is after – transformation vs metamorphosis. The text oscillates between deeply engaging philosophical reflections and decisive interpretive outcomes. And there is no need to worry about the unresolved doubts Beck puts on the table: they are certain to become a great research project for future generations.'
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Saskia Sassen, Columbia University 'Amid crises, challenges, and startling innovations the world is taking on a new shape and character. Quantitative change gives way to qualitative on dimensions from inequality through climate change. The new reality is by definition not completely knowable, but we can know the path to it better by reading Ulrich Beck's sadly but somehow also aptly unfinished book,
The Metamorphosis of the World.'
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Craig Calhoun, Director, London School of Economics and Political ScienceTable of ContentsForeword
Preface
Introduction, Evidence, Theory
Chapter I. Why metamorphosis of the world, why not transformation?
Chapter II. Being God
Chapter III. How climate change might save the world
Chapter IV. Theorising metamorphosis
Themes
Chapter V. From class to risk-class: Inequality in times of metamorphosis
Chapter VI. Where does the power go? Politics of invisibility
Chapter VII. Emancipatory catastrophism: Common goods as side effects of bads
Chapter VIII. Public bads: Politics of visibility
Chapter IX. Digital risk: Failing of functioning institutions
Chapter X. Meta-power game of politics: Metamorphosis of the nation and international relations
Chapter XI. Cosmopolitan communities of risk: From United Nations to United Cities
Outlook
Chapter XII. Global Risk Generations: United in decline
Bibliography
