Challenging Power
Democracy and Accountability in a Fractured World
Published on 25. June 2020
Book
Hardback
232 pages
978-1-350-13905-3 (ISBN)
Description
Arguing that we only have democracy when systems of power are held to account, Kaufman examines the real work being done to challenge the operations of power that underlie four unruly social problems: climate change, sweatshop labour, police abuse, and economic deprivation.
In Challenging Power, Kaufman pairs each of these issues with an operation of power -- the large scale influence of multinational corporations; the power of governments; the authority of financial markets; and the control inherent in systems of meaning -- and using case studies like the Rana Plaza disaster in Bangladesh and the killing of Eric Garner, forcefully demonstrates what is involved in challenging these operations of power.
Advancing a positive message, Kaufman maintains that these networks are not omnipotent and can be challenged if we develop 'mechanisms of accountability' which allow us to conceptualise the nature of these problems and the actions required to resist them. Kaufman provides then, a model for ethical action that allows us to investigate and appreciate our own connections to the powerful forces that control our world.
In Challenging Power, Kaufman pairs each of these issues with an operation of power -- the large scale influence of multinational corporations; the power of governments; the authority of financial markets; and the control inherent in systems of meaning -- and using case studies like the Rana Plaza disaster in Bangladesh and the killing of Eric Garner, forcefully demonstrates what is involved in challenging these operations of power.
Advancing a positive message, Kaufman maintains that these networks are not omnipotent and can be challenged if we develop 'mechanisms of accountability' which allow us to conceptualise the nature of these problems and the actions required to resist them. Kaufman provides then, a model for ethical action that allows us to investigate and appreciate our own connections to the powerful forces that control our world.
Reviews / Votes
Everyone with a conscience should read Holding Power to Account. In this short book, Cynthia Kaufman provides both an ethics and a politics for today's interdependent world. To live a responsible life, we must work together to create systems of "accountability democracy" to constrain those with economic and political power. * Fred Block, Research Professor of Sociology, University of California at Davis, USA * This book highlights democracy's struggle to adapt its mechanisms of accountability to the increasing complexity of power in the modern world. Its focus on holding power to account is particularly fruitful in a time of growing executive power, outsourced services, tax havens and defunct complaints procedures. The book provides a sparkling conceptual clarification of accountability and then explores practical and effective mechanisms for use by NGO's, campaigning organisations and political parties. * Ricardo Blaug, Associate Professor of Democracy and Political Theory, University of Westminster, UK *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Target group
College/higher education
Dimensions
Height: 222 mm
Width: 145 mm
Thickness: 16 mm
Weight
429 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-350-13905-3 (9781350139053)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Cynthia Kaufman is the Director of the Vasconcellos Institute for Democracy in Action at De Anza College, USA, where she also teaches Philosophy. She is the author of two books on social change Getting Past Capitalism: History, Vision, Hope (2012) and Ideas for Action: Relevant Theory for Radical Change (2003). She is a lifelong activist for social change and has worked on issues such as tenants' rights, police abuse, union organizing, international politics, and most recently climate change.
Content
Introduction
1. States of Irresponsibility: Rana Plaza, Accountability, and Power
2. The Ethics of Accountability Democracy
3. The Politics of Accountability Democracy
4. The Powers that need to be held to Account
5. Accountability
6. Developing Effective Accountability Mechanisms
7. Building Accountability Democracy
8. Acting Well in a Traumatized World
Index
1. States of Irresponsibility: Rana Plaza, Accountability, and Power
2. The Ethics of Accountability Democracy
3. The Politics of Accountability Democracy
4. The Powers that need to be held to Account
5. Accountability
6. Developing Effective Accountability Mechanisms
7. Building Accountability Democracy
8. Acting Well in a Traumatized World
Index