Globalization and the new politics of embedded liberalism

Sample

Kathleen B. Jones

In COMPASSIONATE AUTHORITY Kathleen B. Jones takes up some of the most central debates in contemporary feminist analysis - debates concerning the nature of the categories of feminist theory, the development of alternative interpretative strategies in feminist theory, and the position of authority in both feminist theory and practice. Engaging the criticisms of feminist theory offered both by postmodernist feminists and the writings of feminists of color, and employing the textual strategies of feminist film theory, Jones reads canonical texts in modern political theory "against the grain." In doing so, she demonstrates the ways in which gender has been used to construct the paradigms of politics and the practices of authority. Jones explicates the historical roots of the definition of authority as sovereignty and considers the limited usefulness of this conceptualization for the feminist project. She counters this formulation of authority which has dominated political discourse for centuries with an alternative conceptualization of "compassionate authority." This feminist reconstruction of the theory and practice of authority provides a basis for the foundation of a new and meaningful order, for a "woman-friendly" polity. This work uses authority as the means to examine how political analysis is transformed by thinking through gender. In doing so, it makes an original and important contribution to the field of feminist political theory: a burgeoning field in which many political concepts have received rich and extensive treatment and yet, a field in which the question of authority has never before been systematically explored. Drawing on the writings of feminist philosophers, literary critics, film theorists, and historians, as well as on the more orthodox texts of political theory, this book will have broad appeal to scholars and students of women's studies, political science, and a range of interdisciplinary studies.

Sample

Bill Ashcroft and Pal Ahluwalia

"The field of post-colonial studies would not be what it is today without the work of Edward Said. Similarly, he has played a vital role in bringing the plight of Palestine before a world audience." "This volume introduces the ideas at the heart of Said's work, both scholarly and journalistic. Together these ideas make a highly influential statement on the nature of identity formation in the post-colonial world and offer a new understanding of the links between text or critic and their material contexts ('the world'). The authors ask why this work has proved so important, examining its contexts, implications and impact." "With its accessible style, clear explanations of key terms, end-of-chapter summaries and fully annotated guide to further reading, this revised and fully updated edition of a book first published in 1999 is the ideal companion for readers new to Said."--Jacket.

Sample

William C. Johnson

The subtleties of planning and how it affects - and is affected by - the intricate web of government and industry can often prove difficult to grasp even for the experts. Urban Planning and Politics offers insight into the delicate balance between inclusive politics and the public interest. It shows how planning plays a part in the fair distribution of the benefits and costs of urban society. Ranging from basic concepts to specific policies, it covers the common tools and procedures planners use, notes the various participants in the planning process, and focuses on areas of special interest such as housing, economic development, transportation, the urban environment - and the challenges the new century holds.

Sample

Séverine Deneulin

"Amartya Sen has shifted the welfare foundations of economic theory by assessing human well-being in terms of 'freedoms'. This has led to a new paradigm in development economics: development is about expanding the freedoms that people have reason to choose and value. Individual agency, expressed through political participation, is central to promoting these freedoms. This book examines the extent to which Sen's conception of 'development as freedom' can be a guide for development policy and for addressing poverty effectively. The book argues that, if it is to be such a guide, the theoretical foundations of 'development as freedom' need to be expanded. In particular, they will need to pay more attention to collective and historical dimensions which underpin 'freedom'. A methodology for narrating these processes is introduced."--BOOK JACKET.