Challenging Power - by Cynthia Kaufman (Hardcover)
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<p/><br></br><p><b> About the Book </b></p></br></br>"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 Accountability Democracy, 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 the difficulty in challenging this nexus of power. Yet, advancing a positive message, Kaufman maintains that this network is not omnipotent and can be questioned if we develop 'mechanisms of accountability' which allow us to conceptualise the nature of these restrictions and the action required to resist them. Kaufman provides then, a model for ethical living that allows us to investigate and appreciate our own connection to the powerful forces that control our world"--<p/><br></br><p><b> Book Synopsis </b></p></br></br>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. <br/><br/>In <i>Accountability Democracy, </i>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 the difficulty in challenging this nexus of power.<br/><br/>Yet, advancing a positive message, Kaufman maintains that this network is not omnipotent and can be questioned if we develop 'mechanisms of accountability' which allow us to conceptualise the nature of these restrictions and the action required to resist them. Kaufman provides then, a model for ethical living that allows us to investigate and appreciate our own connection to the powerful forces that control our world<p/><br></br><p><b> Review Quotes </b></p></br></br><br>Everyone with a conscience should read <i>Holding Power to Account. </i>In this short book, Cynthia Kaufman provides both an ethics and a politics for today's interdependent world. To live a responsible life, we must work together to create systems of "accountability democracy" to constrain those with economic and political power.<br/>Fred Block, Research Professor of Sociology, University of California at Davis, USA<br><br>This book highlights democracy's struggle to adapt its mechanisms of accountability to the increasing complexity of power in the modern world. Its focus on holding power to account is particularly fruitful in a time of growing executive power, outsourced services, tax havens and defunct complaints procedures. The book provides a sparkling conceptual clarification of accountability and then explores practical and effective mechanisms for use by NGO's, campaigning organisations and political parties.<br/>Ricardo Blaug, Associate Professor of Democracy and Political Theory, University of Westminster, UK<br><p/><br></br><p><b> About the Author </b></p></br></br><b>Cynthia Kaufman</b> 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 <i>Getting Past Capitalism: History</i>, <i>Vision, Hope</i> (2012) and <i>Ideas for Action: Relevant Theory for Radical Change</i> (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.
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