The global economic collapse of 2008 has brought into sharp relief the penetration of global capitalism and its impact on working people both in the industrial core and in developing nations. In response, social movements challenging the World Trade Organization and annual gathering of progressive groups and NGOs at the World Social Forums have embarked on the goal of creating an alternative to the neo-liberal policies that have immiserated generations. The articles in this book address the need for a progressive pedagogy, highlight the organizational forms of resistance to capitalism, and...

Applying the idea of the destiny of societies or nations, the book argues, demonstrates, and illustrates the Calvinist societal "predestination," through the Puritan determination, of American society.

This book scrutinises the development of liberal individualism in terms of its social function, connecting related doctrine and principle to the opportunities and obstacles to capital accumulation over the course of modern history.

This collection dives head-on into the central contradictions of 21st Century North America and beyond with cutting-edge approaches to conflict-driven social change. Diverse forms of social movement resistance from environmentalists, migrant communities and others are analyzed by distinguished critical sociologists.

20th-century European Fascism is conventionally described by both historians and political scientists as a fierce assault on liberal politics, culture and economics. Departing from such typical analysis, this book highlights the long overlooked critical affinities between liberal tradition and fascism. Far from being the antithesis of liberalism, fascism, both in its ideology and its practice, was substantially, if dialectically, indebted to liberalism, particularly to its economic variant. Fascism ought to be seen centrally as an effort to unknot the longue duree tangle of the liberal order,...

Bringing together critical scholars, this volume seeks to understand the roots of our current social and economic crisis on a number of themes including the legacy of critical sociology, the significance of the new Obama administratioadministration, and the relationship of social theory to social practice.

"This collection of essays is most welcome. The main articles of Marian Malowist are collected together (and in many cases translated into English) for the first time. Malowist, who is one of the major economic historians of the twentieth century, is also a much neglected one. Of the eighteen articles here, only five were published in English-language journals that are widely read by historians and social scientists, and even these journals are primarily read by economic historians. So most scholars have been missing out on one of the most fertile and cultivated minds who have written on the...

This book of essays is written in honour of James Petras, in recognition of his intellectual achievements and political interventions--his steadfast principles, distinguished scholarship, extraordinary writing and uncompromising dedication to the popular struggles of millions across the world. In recognition of his lifetime of significant contributions and central role in the global struggle for social justice, the authors of this collection, each a leading scholar in his own right, address some of the most critical issues of our time: those of imperialism, crisis and class struggle. These...

Andy Blunden presents an immanent critique of Cultural-Historical Activity Theory, the current of psychology originating from Lev Vygotsky (1896-1934). Tracing the roots of this theory from Goethe, Hegel and Marx, the author draws out the principles with which Vygotsky developed a theory of the mind in which the individual and their social situation form a single Gestalt, transcending the problems of mind-body dualism. Blunden follows the efforts of later members of the School to resolve outstanding problems in Vygotsky's work. This includes a critical appropriation of Leontyev's Activity...

Jerome Braun, known for his writings in interdisciplinary social science, in this book provides a concrete reference for such abstract issues of social theory as democracy from a cross-cultural perspective, alienation in modern society, and the relation between social cohesiveness and political democracy. This book also includes a great deal of writing on practical issues ranging from nihilism to figurehead politicians to working-class life. In the summary section it deals with the kinds of things critical theorists like to comment on, but rarely with so much practical insight.