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Giddens and Politics beyond the Third Way

Utopian Realism in the Late Modern Age

Palgrave Macmillan

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Table of contents (7 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xi
  2. Introduction: Anthony Giddens — Social Theory and Politics

  3. Utopian Realism: A Political Reading of the Early Giddens

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 19-19
  4. The Contours of a Giddensian Politics

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 69-69
    2. Globalization and Capitalism

      • Peter Kolarz
      Pages 90-116
  5. The Third Way and Beyond: Critique and Reconstruction

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 117-117
  6. Back Matter

    Pages 173-218

About this book

Assessing the political dimensions of Anthony Giddens' work from the 1970s to the present, this book highlights new directions for politics distinct from his Third Way. Kolarz provides an assessment of Giddens' political relevance and utility for present-day political endeavours, reflecting on the approach to critical social theory found in his early work, notably his theory of structuration and critique of historical materialism, and his consequent utopian realist analysis of late modernity. Giddens and Politics beyond the Third Way extracts from his work a rationale for global redistributive action, as well as an integrative approach to policymaking, suggesting that coherence of centre-left emancipatory politics requires coordination of policy areas previously thought of as separate.

Reviews

"This book unlocks the politics of Anthony Giddens' entire works, spanning half a century. Re-invigorating the critical concept of 'utopian realism', Kolarz shows the original promise, failures and possible futures of Giddens' project, creatively re-read as an integrated political whole. An invaluable resource for Giddens's advocates and critics across disciplines, as well as an original introduction to his thought for the uninitiated." - Will Leggett, University of Birmingham, UK
 
"Giddens and Politics beyond the Third Way takes up some of the most pressing theoretical and practical problems of our age in an accessible and engaging manner. By way of a critical analysis of Antony Giddens' most ambitious sociological claims, Peter Kolarz provides readers with a comprehensive account of the challenges to social democracy today, the tasks of the state in the twenty-first century, and the prospects for individual autonomy in late modernity. The book makes a significant contribution to our understanding of the proper relationship between facts and norms, and will be of great interest to students, academics and activists.' - Darrow Schecter, University of Sussex, UK

"This book unlocks the politics of Anthony Giddens' entire works, spanning half a century. Re-invigorating the critical concept of 'utopian realism', Kolarz shows the original promise, failures and possible futures of Giddens' project, creatively re-read as an integrated political whole. An invaluable resource for Giddens's advocates and critics across disciplines, as well as an original introduction to his thought for the uninitiated." - Will Leggett, University of Birmingham, UK

 

"Giddens and Politics beyond the Third Way takes up some of the most pressing theoretical and practical problems of our age in an accessible and engaging manner. By way of a critical analysis of Antony Giddens' most ambitious sociological claims, Peter Kolarz provides readers with a comprehensive account of the challenges to social democracy today, the tasks of the state in the twenty-first century, and the prospects for individual autonomy in late modernity. The book makes a significantcontribution to our understanding of the proper relationship between facts and norms, and will be of great interest to students, academics and activists.' - Darrow Schecter, University of Sussex, UK

Authors and Affiliations

  • Technopolis Group, University of Sussex, UK

    Peter Kolarz

About the author

Peter Kolarz is Policy Research Consultant at Technopolis Group, UK. He studied for his PhD at the University of Sussex, UK and subsequently worked as a lecturer at the University of Portsmouth, UK.

Bibliographic Information

Buy it now

Buying options

eBook USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access