Beyond Left and Right: The Future of Radical PoliticsHow should one understand the nature and possibilities of political radicalism today? The political radical is normally thought of as someone who stands on the left, opposing backward-looking conservatism. In the present day, however, the left has turned defensive, while the right has become radical, advocating the free play of market forces no matter what obstacles of tradition or custom stand in their way. What explains such a curious twist of perspective? In answering this question, Giddens develops a new framework for radical politics, drawing on what he calls "philosophic conservatism, " but applying this outlook in the service of values normally associated with the left. The ecological crisis is at the core of this analysis, but is understood by Giddens in an unconventional way - as a response to a world in which modernity has run up against its limits as a social and moral order. The end of nature, as an entity existing independently of human intervention, and the end of tradition, combined with the impact of globalization, are the forces which now have to be confronted, made use of and coped with. This book provides a powerful interpretation of the rise of fundamentalism, of democracy, the persistence of gender divisions and the question of a normative political theory of violence. It will be essential reading for anyone seeking a novel approach to the political challenges we face at the turn of the twenty-first century. |
Contents
Radicalism Embraced | 22 |
Conservatism and neoliberalism | 37 |
Conservatism and the concept of tradition | 45 |
the Retreat from Radicalism | 51 |
1 | 74 |
The Social Revolutions of our Time | 78 |
Two Theories of Democratization | 104 |
11 | 129 |
Positive Welfare Poverty and Life Values | 174 |
22 | 193 |
Ecological | 198 |
24 | 212 |
Political Theory and the Problem of Violence | 229 |
Questions of Agency and Values | 246 |
Notes | 254 |
41 | 256 |
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active trust affluent Anthony Giddens areas argue autonomy basic become capitalism capitalist changes civil concerns connection conservatism conservative context cosmopolitan countries cracy create cultural deep ecology deliberative democracy democratic depends detraditionalization dialogic democracy domain ecological effects environment environmental ethical experience external risk fact force forms Fukuyama fundamentalism gender global green political high-consequence risks human Human Genome Project idea implies important individuals industrialized inequalities influence issues labour market less liberal democracy lifestyle lives London longer male manufactured risk manufactured uncertainty Marilyn French Marxism means moral nation-state nature neoconservatives neoliberals Old Conservatism orthodox patriarchy poor positive welfare post-scarcity post-traditional poverty problems processes production productivism programmes question reflexive modernization relation relationship self-help groups sense sexual situation social order social reflexivity social solidarity socialist society tend theory tion tradition Ulrich Beck underclass unemployment utopian values violence welfare systems wider women