Benjamin R. Barber Ordine dei libri (cronologico)

"In the face of the most perilous challenges of our time--climate change, terrorism, poverty, and trafficking of drugs, guns, and people--the nations of the world seem paralyzed. The problems are too big for governments to deal with. Benjamin Barber contends that cities, and the mayors who run them, can do and are doing a better job than nations. He cites the unique qualities cities worldwide share: pragmatism, civic trust, participation, indifference to borders and sovereignty, and a democratic penchant for networking, creativity, innovation, and cooperation. He demonstrates how city mayors, singly and jointly, are responding to transnational problems more effectively than nation-states mired in ideological infighting and sovereign rivalries. The book features profiles of a dozen mayors around the world, making a persuasive case that the city is democracy's best hope in a globalizing world, and that great mayors are already proving that this is so"--

"Powerful and disturbing. No one who cares about the future of our public life can afford to ignore this book." —Jackson Lears

Una critica radicale all'idea di guerra preventiva a cui Berber oppone il modello di una democrazia del futuro, questa sì "preventiva". L'autore ripercorre la storia della politica e della diplomazia americana e condanna la scelta di Bush di ricorrere all'uso delle armi come risposta al terrorismo. Barber evidenzia la tendenza a confondere la propaganda di un modello di società democratica con la reclamizzazione di una miscela seduttiva di libero mercato e marchi il cosiddetto "Mac World". A tutto ciò si contrappone l'idea di un'America esportatrice di alti valori democratici e civili, perché come la legalità e l'impegno civile dei cittadini garantiscono la libertà interna alle nazioni, così la possono garantire fra Stati diversi.

Il Mcmondo è l'universo dei computer e dei fast food, dei bisogni preconfezionati, della fruizione sempre più rapida. In aperto conflitto con le forze omologanti della globalizzazione, la Guerra santa è il simbolo di tutti i nazionalismi e integralismi che dividono e insanguinano il mondo. L'autore, politologo americano, ci guida fra i tanti episodi che stanno confusamente delineando la scena del dopo guerra fredda; ci dimostra che queste due realtà, corrispondenti a modi radicalmente diversi di pensiero, sono meno distanti di quanto si pensi e non una meno pericolosa dell'altra.

Offers liberal society a way of thinking about and of practicing democracy. This title argues that an excess of liberalism has undermined our democratic institutions and brought about the set of crises we find ourselves struggling against: cynicism about voting, alienation, privatization, and the growing paralysis of public institutions.

Although the conflict and the bloodshed in the name of democracy have given us some of our noblest moments, democracy itself remains one of the most flawed, confusing, threatened, and complex of human institutions. By examining the paradoxes and perplexities, The Struggle for Democracy provides a clear understanding of the origin and nature of democracy, including the extraordinary idea of citizenship, the tremendous achievement of free speech, and the enormous power placed in the hands of ordinary men and women. The book includes commentary on monumentally historic events such as the destruction of the Berlin Wall, the infamous student demonstrations in Tiananmen Square, and the collapse of communism in the former Soviet Union. In an inspiring introductory chapter, Patrick Watson reflects on the challenges facing world democracy as it enters the new millennium. In a concluding chapter, Benjamin Barber examines the future of democracy and the impact that globalization and technology will have on both emerging and established democracies.