A Contribution to the Critique of Contemporary Capitalism: Theoretical and International Perspectives
Author: Raju J. Das
Faculty of Graduate Studies, York University, Toronto, Canada |
"Raju Das' book is a joyful scream of defiance, but it is also a call to study. His searchlight is a Marxism that is critical of everything, including itself. Whether the focus is on the theory of the state, unfree labor, social class in rural India, pharmaceutical fraud in the USA, the nature of protest politics, or Marxist class theory itself, Das will make you want to join in his boundless sense of struggle and possibility. You will almost feel invited to think critically, even about his specific interventions, because only thus will you and he be truly part of the international movement to build the world-beyond-capitalism that we all so desperately need. Don't just read this book; put it to good use!" - David Laibman, Editor, Science & Society, Professor (Emeritus), Economics, City University of New York
"[In] this important book…Das has contributed substantially to the defence of Marxist theory, a significant achievement in the present hostile intellectual climate." Review provided by Tom Brass, former lecturer in the Social and Political Sciences Faculty at Cambridge University and the second-longest serving editor of The Journal of Peasant Studies (1990-2008). To read the review in full, click here. |
A Difficult World: Examining the Roots of Capitalism
Authors Maximiliano Korstanje
University of Palermo, Argentina, and others |
“This monograph comprises the completion of an intellectual project for which its author is best known as an international scholar. Its individual chapters involve meticulous elaborations on different aspects of North American national mythopoesis, so as to uncover US ‘exceptionalisms’ as problematic postulates. This is achieved with the employment of a looking-glass ‘from below’: the same continent’s Southern hemisphere, in which the author grew up. In this magnum opus Korstanje highlights how current global divides between ‘North’ and ‘South’ are shrouded in the old binarisms of civilization vs. barbarism to legitimize institutional terror and different forms of symbolic, material and physical violence by the powerful.” - Reviewed by Dr. Rodanthi Tzanelli, Associate Professor of Cultural Sociology, School of Sociology and Social Policy, Social Sciences, University of Leeds, UK
“Korstanje’s latest book, A Difficult World, is a wide-ranging and sophisticated exploration and analysis of contemporary world events and social/historical structures. The author provides a challenging, yet insightful, critique of contemporary capitalism—primarily its Anglo-American version—via an investigation of what he sees as an intimate relationship between U.S. attitudes of exceptionalism, risk, and fear. Along the way, he engages with the works of Baudrillard, Weber, Huntington, Virilio, and many other notables in arguing for links between technology, terrorism, and tourism, all of which are fundamental components of a contemporary world order that embraces complexity as a primary value. This book is a no-holds-barred and controversial evaluation of an indeed difficult world and it deserves a wide and close reading.” - David Boersema, Editor in Chief of Essays in Philosophy - Pacific University, Oregon, US “This present book gives new conceptual framework to discuss critically the role of capitalism in configuring societal order. While US launches to colonize the future, it results in a state of uncertainness that leads to a much deeper fear. Paradoxically, Americans who feel superior or exceptional, are more prone to risk perception and panic than other cultures. The same ethnocentrism works in homeland, becomes in terror when they should travel abroad.” - Freddy Timmermann, University Silva Henriquez Chile David L. Altheide, Regents’ Professor Emeritus, Arizona State University. To read the review, click here. |
Immigration: Policies, Challenges and Impact
Editor: Eugene Tartakovsky
Tel-Aviv University, The Bob Shapell School of Social Work, Tel Aviv, Israel |
"This collected volume is a significant addition to immigration literature and an important source for students, scholars, researchers and practitioners who work with immigrant populations." - Reviewed by Julia Mirsky, Professor, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Israel. To read the review in its entirety, click here.
"Among many fine books on the important and perennial topic of Immigration," Professor Eugene Tartakovsky's new volume on Immigration: Policies, challenges, impact" (Nova, 2013) stands out as solid reference book in a few ways. Its focus is panoramic, with 9 chapters covering many aspects: migrants' motivations, attitudes toward migrants, their identity, acculturation, and psychological adjustment. It is an evidence-based volume, with psychological scientists among the 42 experts who present their research findings. Not least of all, it is decidedly global, with it contributors and topics spanning many nations. A solid reference book with a wonderful seven-page index to its authoritative contents." - Reviewed by Harold Takooshian, PhD, Past-President, Division of International Psychology, American Psychological Association |
Ireland: Economic, Political and Social Issues
Editor: Christopher Alan Lewis Institute for Health, Medical Sciences and Society, Glyndwr University, Plas Coch Campus, Wales, United Kingdom
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This book has been reviewed by Dr. Roger Manktelow from the University of Ulster at Magee. To read the review
in its entirety that is published in the Irish Journal of Sociology please click here. |
James A. Garfield: Leading America from Frontier to Empire
Author: Barbara Bennett Peterson University of Hawaii, Tigard, Oregon, USA
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"Well-researched and plainly written, Peterson’s James A. Garfield: Leading America from Frontier to Empire may very well be the best synthesis and analysis of the significance of Garfield’s brief tenure as President of the United States."
- Reviewed by Thomas J. Rowland, University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh To read the review in its entirety, click here. |
Mexico in Focus: Political, Environmental and Social Issues
Editor: José Galindo
University of California, Berkeley/Universidad Veracruzana |
"Mexico in Focus is an impressive edited volume that deals with some of the most pressing problems faced by Mexico today. These include environmental issues like the need to protect fragile ecosystems and biodiversity, the need to develop better methods of recycling waste products, and the need to confront air pollution in effective ways; social problems like supporting the aged, promoting social mobility, and protecting human rights; and political issues like the future of democracy, the role of congress after the transition to democracy, and the strategies of Mexico’s opposition parties. These essays by social scientists are almost all well-conceived, theoretically sophisticated, and well-written." - Reviewed by Margaret Chowning, Ph.D., University of California Berkeley, Department of History, Berkeley, CA, USA. To read the review in its entirety, click here.
"... Approximately 7 years ago I came to this country to look more closely at my fascinating object of study that has always been Mexico, and, since coming here, events and realities have left me so shocked and dismayed that I believe I have developed a strong case of astigmatism. Thankfully, this book has served well as a good pair of glasses to correct my vision, and I thank the editor for the opportunity to read it and to share it with the public. I invite you to read it, and spread the word, not only here in Mexico, but also abroad. Put on your glasses and take a new look at Mexico." - Reviewed by Michael Ducey, Ph.D., Professor, Researcher, Instituto de Investigaciones Histórico-Sociales, Universidad Veracruzana, Mexico, University of Colorado, Denver, USA. To read the review in its entirety, click here. |
Political Leadership in the Spanish Transition to Democracy (1975-1982)
Editors: José Francisco
Jiménez-Díaz Area of Political Science & Public Administration, Faculty of Law, Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Seville, Spain Santiago Delgado-Fernández Faculty of Political Sciences & Sociology, Universidad de Granada, Granada, Spain |
“This book written by some of the best Spanish scholars on leadership is the first one covering systematically -and successfully- one of the more significant topics regarding the return to democracy in Spain.” - Miguel Jerez-Mir, Professor of Political Science, Universidad de Granada, Spain and former Prince of Asturias Chair at Georgetown University
“The transition to democracy in Spain was, as Linz said, a ‘negotiated reform-negotiated break’ and, consequently, political leaders played a key role. In this regard, a study of the Spanish transition about the role of leaders is a necessary and definitive approach for the most serious and profound understanding of a transformation that has had so many consequences for the Spanish democracy.” - Leonardo Morlino, Professor of Political Science, Libera Universitá Internazionale degli Studi Sociali (LUISS) Guido Carli, Rome, Italy. First Italian President of the International Political Science Association (IPSA) “The authors give a new and suggestive interpretation of the Spanish transition to democracy (1975-82) based on a comparative analysis of their main leaders personal and political profiles.” - Josep Maria Vallès is, Professor of Political Science and former Rector of the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. First Dean (1985-1990) of the Faculty of Political Science and Sociology at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. “The study of political leadership encompasses many contextual and structural factors—and it requires careful analysis of individual leaders who help shape and are shaped by those factors. With this significant new book, Professors Jiménez-Díaz and Delgado-Fernández make a valuable and necessary contribution to comprehending Spain’s transition to democracy (1975-82). They have assembled a collection of important analytical and narrative chapters that will allow readers to understand the political leaders whose strategies and decisions were vital in the Transition. These studies of political leaders should be read by all who want to comprehend the lives of many who shaped a modern democratic Spain.” - Douglas A. Hicks is Professor in the religion department and Senior Advisor for Academic Initiatives at Colgate University in Hamilton, New York, USA “A book that makes a difference due to their inclusive and suggestive perspective for studying the political leaders who guided the Spanish transition to democracy.” - Antonio Natera-Peral is Associate Professor of Political Science and Public Administration at the Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, Spain |
The Eurozone Enlargement: Prospect of New EU Member States for Euro Adoption
Editor: Yoji Koyama
Niigata University, Niigata, Japan |
" ...This book could be praised as a lucid and insightful introduction to a complicated subject."- Reviewed by Dr. Dubravko Radosevic, Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of Economics Zagreb, Croatia
" ... This book is essential reading for students, policy-makers, journalists, academics or anyone with an interest in the ongoing changes and the related tensions within the European Union."- Reviewed by Dr. Mako Csaba, Institute of Sociology - Centre for Social Sciences, Hungarian Academy of Sciences "The book is a comprehensive resource for all with an informational and research interest in the field of European integration and is recommended for all seeking to understand the processes behind European integration and to analyse the proc and cons of Europe´s great currency project." - Reviewed by Professor Lubos Komarek, Director of Monetary and Statistics Department, External Economic Relations Division, the Czech National Bank and Professor at Technical University of Ostrava This book is very useful to expand our eyesight and stimulates our thinking of the future of the Eurozone in the next decade." - Reviewed by Professor SOKO TANAKA, Jean Monnet chair ad personam, former President of the Japan Society of International Economics and former President of the European Union Studies Association – Japan To see the reviews in full; as well as see additional reviews for this book, click here. |
