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Abstract
The language of political debate and analysis has changed dramatically in recent years. Today, both academics and practitioners have largely abandoned the vocabulary of the left and replaced it with a set of concepts that structure debate and set the political agenda. Thus, the world economy is discussed in terms of globalisation instead of international capitalism.
Moreover, the apparently benign concepts of civil society, citizenship and stakeholder have replaced those of class and class conflict, poverty is about social exclusion rather than exploitation, and consumer choice and worker empowerment have replaced the pursuit of class interests. In today's political climate, socialism is seen as old-fashioned or utopian. In contrast, capitalism is seen as realistic, and the 'third way' is presented as the solution to all our ills.
This book explores the real issues behind these catchphrases of modern politics, explaining what they mean, and offering a critique of the ideology of which they are a part.
Table of Contents
| Section Title | Page | Action | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contents | iii | ||
| Acknowledgements | iv | ||
| Introduction | 1 | ||
| Political concepts | 1 | ||
| Political concepts today | 2 | ||
| The chapters | 4 | ||
| References | 13 | ||
| 1. Globalisation | 14 | ||
| A history of 'globalisation': the establishment of an orthodoxy | 15 | ||
| Current usage: a contested globalisation | 17 | ||
| Critical debate | 19 | ||
| Contesting globalisation | 23 | ||
| Counter-globalisations? | 25 | ||
| Conclusions | 28 | ||
| Guide to further reading | 31 | ||
| References | 31 | ||
| 2. Governance | 35 | ||
| History | 35 | ||
| Current usage | 37 | ||
| Current debates | 41 | ||
| Critical analysis | 45 | ||
| Conclusion | 49 | ||
| Guide to further reading | 50 | ||
| References | 50 | ||
| 3. Postmodernism | 54 | ||
| Some historical background to the theory | 55 | ||
| A brief history of the term | 56 | ||
| Why is contemporary society thought of as postmodern? | 57 | ||
| What is Postmodernism? | 58 | ||
| Does Postmodernism help us to understand society and politics? | 62 | ||
| Can postmodernism provide a basis for radical claims? | 66 | ||
| Does postmodernism supersede explanations based on class? | 69 | ||
| Conclusion | 71 | ||
| Guide to further reading | 71 | ||
| References | 71 | ||
| 4. Citizenship | 73 | ||
| What is citizenship? | 73 | ||
| The development of citizenship | 75 | ||
| Contemporary debates and controversies | 76 | ||
| Conclusion | 87 | ||
| Guide to further reading | 88 | ||
| References | 88 | ||
| 5. Civil Society | 90 | ||
| Historical trajectory | 92 | ||
| Current usage | 95 | ||
| Critique | 98 | ||
| The continuing validity of civil society | 102 | ||
| Conclusion | 105 | ||
| Guide to further reading | 105 | ||
| References | 106 | ||
| 6. Gender | 108 | ||
| History: the distinction between sex and gender | 109 | ||
| Current status | 112 | ||
| Critical discussion | 117 | ||
| Conclusions | 122 | ||
| Guide to further reading | 122 | ||
| References | 123 | ||
| 7. 'Ethnicity', 'Race' and Racism | 126 | ||
| History and development of 'ethnicity' | 127 | ||
| Current status | 130 | ||
| Critical analysis | 132 | ||
| Case study: 'ethnicity' in Britain | 137 | ||
| Conclusion | 141 | ||
| Guide to further reading | 142 | ||
| References | 142 | ||
| 8. The Third Way | 145 | ||
| Historical trajectory | 146 | ||
| Current usage | 147 | ||
| Criticisms of the Third Way | 152 | ||
| Conclusions | 158 | ||
| Guide to further reading | 159 | ||
| References | 160 | ||
| 9. Empowerment | 162 | ||
| History of the term | 163 | ||
| What is empowerment? | 165 | ||
| Empowerment and neo-liberalism | 166 | ||
| Empowering patients | 169 | ||
| Empowering workers | 172 | ||
| Guide to further reading | 176 | ||
| References | 176 | ||
| 10. Stakeholding | 179 | ||
| Brief history | 179 | ||
| Current usage of the stakeholder concept | 182 | ||
| A critique of the stakeholder models | 184 | ||
| Conclusions | 193 | ||
| Guide to further reading | 195 | ||
| References | 196 | ||
| 11. Social Capital | 198 | ||
| Defining social capital | 198 | ||
| Current usage | 200 | ||
| Critique | 201 | ||
| Social capital, pluralism and the rolling back of the state | 207 | ||
| Conclusions: social capital and the retreat from radicalism | 211 | ||
| Guide to further reading | 213 | ||
| References | 213 | ||
| Conclusions | 215 | ||
| Problems with liberal theory | 215 | ||
| Class, capitalism and prospects for change | 217 | ||
| References | 219 | ||
| Notes on Contributors | 220 | ||
| Index | 222 | ||
| Advance Directives 171 | 171 | ||
| Afghanistan 136 | 136 | ||
| Africa | 35 |