Challenging Power
Democracy and Accountability in a Fractured World
1st Edition
Published on 28. May 2020
232 pages
978-1-350-13906-0 (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.
More details
Edition
1. Auflage
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Target group
College/higher education
ISBN-13
978-1-350-13906-0 (9781350139060)
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
Other editions
Additional editions
Book
06/2020
Bloomsbury Academic
€38.40
Shipment within 15-20 days
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
