Bøger udgivet af Pluto Press (UK)

In 1997, many countries came together to pledge $500 million over five years to 'mine action' programmes to tackle the destruction caused by landmines. This book explores how effectively that money has been spent. Is the world a safer place as a result of the ban? Has international mine action been a success? What lessons have been learnt along the way? What are the challenges for the future? In short, what is the true extent of Princess Diana's legacy?Stuart Maslen assesses the effectiveness of mine awareness, mine clearance operations, victim assistance, international law and stockpile destruction. He outlines the global threat that mines present and the evolution of the mine action programme worldwide.

"Of all the transcendent powers that shape our modern lives, propaganda is the most powerful and insidious. This brilliant, original book reveals the secret truth about so-called public relations and should be required reading on every curriculum."---John Pilger This book charts the relentless rise of the public relations industry and how it has transformed our society. Revealing the roots of the PR movement in the years leading up to the First World War, it shows how it became a key tool in the struggle to subordinate democracy to corporate rule. It is the first book to offer a history of the emergence of corporate propaganda on both sides of the Atlantic during the 20th century. The authors show how the origins of PR were always covertly political. Spin has been around for a long time and its anti-democratic potential is well known to all those who have made use of it. Based on extensive use of original archival material, the book presents a clear chronology of PR's development, including a detailed account of how US capitalists mobilized to tame FDR's New Deal and joint US-UK efforts to push for the deregulation of global markets.

All over the world, women and girls are being denied their social, economic, political and civil rights. The aim of this book is to expose this systematic discrimination wherever it occurs - in education, access to public services, in reaping benefits from trade, and elsewhere. The book also explores violence against women and looks at how the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Africa is linked to the denial of women's rights. Geraldine Terry looks at positive examples of women acting to transform inequalities and oppression by asserting their rights. Terry argues that promoting women's rights is not only a moral issue but also a very effective way to pursue poverty reduction goals worldwide.

Today is a difficult time to be both Arab and American. Since 9/11 there has been a lot of criticism of America's involvement in the middle east. Yet there has been little analysis of how America treats citizens of Arab or middle eastern origin within its own borders. Steven Salaita explores the reality of Anti-Arab racism in America. He blends personal narrative, theory and polemics to show how this deep-rooted racism affects everything from legislation to cultural life, shining a light on the consequences of Anti-Arab racism both at home and abroad.Uniquely, the book shows how ingrained racist attitudes can be found within the progressive movements on the political left, as well as the right. Salaita argues that, under the guise of patriotism, Anti-Arab racism fuels support for policies such as the Patriot Act. Salaita breaks down the facade of Anti-Arab racism with an insightful analysis, arguing for the urgency of a commitment to openness and inclusion in today's political climate.

Unravelling Gramsci makes extensive use of Antonio Gramsci's writings, including his pre-prison journalism, prison letters, and prison notebooks, to provide a fresh approach to understanding his contemporary relevance in the current neoliberal world order. Adam David Morton examines in detail the themes of hegemony, passive revolution, and uneven development to provide a useful way of analyzing the contemporary global political economy, neoliberalism, state formation, and practices of resistance. The book explores the theoretical and practical limitations to the use of Gramsci's ideas today. "Powerful and clarifying . . . a landmark volume."---John Agnew, University of California, Los Angeles "Morton draws upon an impressive knowledge of Gramsci's writings to provide new insights into key processes in today's world order."---Anne Showstack Sassoon, Kingston University and Birbeck College, University of London.

Guiding the reader through the key arguments of the classic figures of Western political philosophy, from Plato through to the modern era, this revised edition includes new essays on Aristotle's 'Politics', Confucianism, Islamic social philosophy and Nazism, as well as additional material on 'Roman Law', Anarchism and 'anti-capitalism'. Cohen moves chronologically through the development of political philosophy. He presents key texts in their own terms, before offering short, precise analyses of their strengths, weaknesses and influence. The book finishes with a discussion of modern liberalism and conservatism. Providing both a broad overview and precise summaries of key ideas, this is an invaluable guide for all students of political thought.

This book brings together leading critics to explore the work of CLR James, the world-famous Carribean intellectual. It's an exciting and innovative examination of the wide impact that CLR James has had on contemporary thought -- as a historian, novelist, cultural and political theorist and activist. The contributors reinvigorate James's inspiring critical output, with particular reference to the impact he has had on cultural studies. Invaluable for students of post-colonial studies, the book examines points where James crosses with other theorists, such as Lacan and Gramsci. Racial identity and cultural politics are key themes in his work, not to mention his unique writings on cricket. Contributors including Donald E Pease, Nicole King, Christopher Gair and Anthony Bogues illuminate the key themes in James's writing, and put forward the idea that the breath of James's thinking can be identified as the beginning of 'post-national' studies. Christopher Gair is a lecturer in the Department of American and Canadian Studies, University of Birmingham. He is the author of Complicity and Resistance in Jack London¹s Novels (Edwin Mullen Press, 1997), of The American Counterculture (forthcoming, Edinburgh University Press, 2006), and of numerous essays on American literature and culture. He is the editor of the journal Symbiosis.

The US has several major interests in the Balkans, the Greater Middle East and the wide Eurasian zone, which determine its political and military strategies in the region. What are these interests, and what strategies are used to ensure that they are maintained? Examining the balance of power between the US, the EU and key EU states in the region, Vassilis Fouskas offers a sustained critique of US foreign policy and its underlying motivations. Fouskas argues that the major US objectives include control over gas and oil producing zones; safe transportation of energy to Western markets at stable prices; and the elimination, but not destruction, of America's Eurasian competitors. He asserts that US foreign policy is therefore driven by the desire to maintain a strategic partnership with key EU states, while preventing the emergence of an alternative coalition in Eurasia capable of challenging US supremacy. How does the US manage its interests in Eurasia and what are the particular strategies the EU has elaborated so far to deal with America's supremacy? Has US foreign policy undergone a dramatic U-turn after the end of the Cold War or, for that matter, after September 11th? What are the roles of Germany, France, Britain and Turkey, and how do EU- Cyprus relations affect the balance of power? This book tackles these questions and argues that the emergence of a social democratic administration in Eurasia is a feasible alternative to American unilateralism.

What is the legacy of the war in Iraq? Can democracy and human rights really be imposed "by fire and sword"? This book brings together some of the world's most outstanding theorists in the debate over empire and international law. They provide a uniquely lucid account of the relationship between American imperialism, the use and abuse of "humanitarian intervention," and its legal implications. Empire's Law is ideal for students who want a comprehensive critical introduction to the impact that the doctrine of pre-emptive war has had on our capacity to protect human rights and promote global justice. Leading contributors including Leo Panitch, Sam Gindin, Jurgen Habermas, Ulrich Preuss, Andrew Arato, Samir Amin, Reg Whitaker, Denis Halliday and Hans von Sponeck tackle a broad range of issues. Covering everything from the role of Europe and the UN, to people's tribunals, to broader theoretical accounts of the contradictions of war and human rights, the contributors offer new and innovative ways of examining the problems that we face. It is essential reading for all students who want a systematic framework for understanding the long-term consequences of imperialism.

The World Wide Web is the greatest source of information used by students and teachers, media and library professionals, as well as the general public. There is so great a flow of information that it is necessary to have a tool for guiding one to the best and most reliable sources. This important new guide to the African American experience in cyberspace fills this need for people in all areas of Black Studies and Multiculturalism. There is no search engine list that can match the quality of sites to be found in this book.Alkalimat provides an easy to use directory to the very best websites that deal with the African American Experience. The first section covers every aspect of African American history, while a second section deals with a diverse set of topics covering society and culture. Each chapter has a brief essay, extensively annotation on the five best sites for each topic, and then a group of good sites and a short bibliography. This book is designed for a course at the high school or college level. This book should be kept near every home computer that people use to surf the web for Black content.Most people have found out that the major corporations and governments have been the dominant uploaders of information into cyberspace. This volume is different because it is a serious introduction to the full democratic use of the web. These websites will introduce people to the people who are serious about ending the digital divide because they are busy uploading information about the most excluded and marginalized people, the African American community. Many of these sites are being established by Black Studies academic programmes, as well as community based organizations and institutions.

This book explores the underbelly of globalisation -- the illicit networks of money, drugs, people and arms that make up a multi-billion dollar illegal economy. This is the dangerous world of trafficking, identified by developed countries as the major threat to international order. In their eyes, it brings unwanted and undocumented people into the hidden crevices of affluent societies; guns and drugs are exchanged for access to the global market through the backdoor. As a result, trafficking is scrutinised, vilified, outlawed, even as free trade is celebrated.Gargi Bhattacharyya argues that trafficking is the unacknowledged underside of globalisation. The official economy relies on this illegal economy. Without it, globalisation cannot access cheap labour, it cannot reach vulnerable new markets, and it cannot finance expansion into the places most ravaged by human suffering. Traffick has become the secret basis of global expansion.The book examines the workings of the illegal economy, breaking it down into four main sections: organised crime, drugs, arms and people-trafficking. Exploring how we got here, and what the future holds, the issues it raises should interest a broad range of students across the social sciences.

A brilliant meditation on the nature of the American empire that ranges widely between past and present. ... Few books I've read on recent US foreign policy cut both as deep and as broadly as this one. Professor Marilyn Young, New York University"A fine example of how to write contemporary history. Ryan provides readers with a real understanding of the dilemmas of the American empire." Professor Lloyd Gardner, Rutgers University"A majestic work, moving from the Cold War to now. ... An essential critique of the world of the 21st century." Professor William S. Lucas, University of BirminghamDavid Ryan examines the broad contexts of US foreign policy and the lingering aftermath of the Vietnam War that shaped the opportunistic framing of 9/11 and paved the way for the long-held neo-conservative desire for regime change and war in Iraq. He examines the construction of the cultural framework for war following 9/11, the legitimacy of military force in Afghanistan, the rise of anti-Americanism, within the broader contexts over the struggle over legitimacy, identity and leadership.Turning the 'clash of civilisations' thesis on its head, Ryan presents a careful analysis of the evolution of US foreign policy and its engagement with Iraq through the 1980s. While 9/11 provided the opportunity, the post-Vietnam context provides a more pertinent framework for this reflection on the Gulf War, the Iraq War and the strategic implications for US foreign policy.

This book argues that the current financial turmoil signals a crisis in globalisation that will directly challenge the free market economic model. Graham Turner shows that the housing bubbles in the West were deliberately created to mask the damage inflicted by companies shifting production abroad in an attempt to boost profits. As these bubbles burst, economic growth in many developed countries will inevitably tumble. The Japanese crisis of the 1990s shows that banks and governments may struggle to contain the fallout. The problem has not been limited to the US, UK and Europe: housing bubbles have become endemic across wide swathes of emerging market economies. As the West slides, these countries will see an implosion of their credit bubbles too, shaking their faith in the free market. Turner is an experienced and successful economic forecaster, whose opinions are sought by large international banks and top financial journalists. Drawing from his first hand experience of the Japanese property crash of the 1990s, he presents his analysis in a clear and persuasive style, showing that the end of housing market growth spells disaster for neoliberal globalisation.

A radical methodological approach to psychology that is open to social change - in an anti-capitalist, anti-racist and feminist politics. Antonio Negri Psychology is meant to help people cope with the afflictions of modern society. But how useful is it? Ian Parker argues that current psychological practice has become part of the problem, rather than the solution. Ideal for undergraduates, this book deconstructs the discipline to reveal the neoliberal sensitivities that underlie its theory and practice. Psychology focuses on the happiness of 'the individual'. Yet it neglects the fact that the happiness of the individual depends on their social and political surroundings. Ian Parker argues that a new approach to psychology is needed. He offers an alternative vision, outlining how the discipline can be linked to political practice and how it can help people as part of a wider progressive agenda. This groundbreaking book is at the cutting edge of current thinking on the discipline and should be required reading on all psychology courses.

'Vulnerability' is now a key term in globalisation studies. It is used to describe how globalisation impacts on individual security, local communities and even global flows of trade, finance and investment. Yet there has been little attempt to interrogate the term and what it is trying to express about globalisation. Peadar Kirby examines what is really meant by 'vulnerability' and links it to new forms of violence that have resulted from decreased security and social cohesion. He argues that vulnerability and violence are characteristic features of a new world order dominated by neoliberal globalisation. Illustrating his argument with a wealth of examples taken from all over the world -- from the sudden collapse of the middle class in Argentina to increased levels of poverty internationally -- he offers a robust theoretical grounding that will be of use to anyone studying vulnerability and violence and their relation to contemporary globalisation.

The term 'nation-building' has experienced a remarkable renaissance since the early 1990s. It has been used to describe and to justify the military interventions in Somalia, Afghanistan and Iraq. Linked to the idea of 'failed' or 'failing' states, the concept is used to hide and legitimise a whole range of diverse policies, allowing foreign powers to control and reshape countries in areas of conflict.Currently the international debate on nation building is heavily dominated by US actors and authors, especially by writers connected to the Bush administration or its policies. This book presents academic and political alternatives, presenting a critical view from 'Old Europe'. The book combines academic research and analysis with policy orientation, with contributors from both fields. It clarifies the terminology distinguishing developmental, peace-related, imperial and analytical approaches to nation-building. Highlighting its connections to globalization, democracy, ethnic and religious minorities, the contributors consider case studies such as Somalia, the Balkans, Afghanistan, Iraq and Nigeria.

In times of war, human rights violations often go unreported. In Israel and the Occupied Territories, where ongoing conflict has killed many thousands, abuses of human rights are commonplace, but these stories seldon reach the outside world. This book redressses that imbalance: taken from documents produced by international human rights groups - and assembled by the international journalists' organisation Reporters sans Frontieres - itprovides an authorative account of human rights violations that have taken place on both sides of the conflict since the start of the second Intifada in Spetember 2000. Unlike conventional reportage, these accounts are careful not to overdramatise the story. Instead, they offer as objective an account as possible of the degradations that both Israelis and Palestinians have suffered. The reports are taken from groups including Amnesty International, the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights, the Palestinian Human Rights Monitoring Group, Human Rights Watch, the Public Committee Against Torture in Israel, B'Tselem and Reporters sans Frontieres. Bringing these abuses to public attention for the first time, this book is both an important historical document, and a sobering account of what is going on in Israel and Palestine, that will be of interest to politicians, NGOs, students and activists everywhere.

An impassioned critique of mental health movements from one of the left's most important thinkers on health.An impassioned critique of mental health movements from one of the left's most important thinkers on health

'A wonderful showcase of the most exciting work happening in Black British History and a rousing call to action. Essential reading!' Christienna Fryar, historian of Britain and the Caribbean'A forceful revolt against Eurocentric history and imperialist nostalgia, this illuminates the everyday lives and interconnected freedom struggles of generations of Black people in Britain, particularly Black women. An indispensable resource' W. Chris Johnson, University of Toronto'They can destroy our landing cards, but they'll never erase our history! Packed with lucid, rigorous and groundbreaking new research, this is essential reading' Kevin Searle, editorial board, History MattersThe history of African and Caribbean people in Britain is centuries long. Although integral to, and indivisible from 'British history', it is usually treated as a footnote - or forgotten altogether. But with the flourishing of the Black Lives Matter uprisings, and fierce debates around the legacies of colonialism, has come a renewed hunger for the recovery of this history. Edited by leading historian Hakim Adi, Many Struggles includes contributions from an array of emerging historians and scholar-activists. Covering the sixteenth to the late twentieth centuries, the book reveals the long history of African and Caribbean people in Britain. Drawing on new archival research, Many Struggles emphasises often-neglected themes such as local histories, women, gender and political activism.  Hakim Adi was the first person of African heritage to be appointed a professor of history in Britain, and currently teaches at the University of Chichester. He is the author of numerous books including African and Caribbean People in Britain: A History, West Africans in Britain 1900-1960 and Pan-Africanism: A History. He has made numerous documentary film, television and radio appearances, and is included in the book 100 Great Black Britons.

A clear analysis of the about-turn in the modern financial sector towards free market authoritarianism

As disasters become more commonplace, we need to think of alternatives for relief.As disasters become more commonplace, we need to think of alternatives for relief

'Lively, accessible and inspiring.' Paul Chandler, Chief Executive, Traidcraft

"Antisemitism is one of the most controversial topics of our time. The public, academics, journalists, activists, and Jewish people themselves are divided over its meaning. Antony Lerman shows that this is a result of a 30-year process of redefinition of the phenomenon, casting Israel, problematically defined as the 'persecuted collective Jew', as one of its main targets. This political project has taken the notion of the 'new antisemitism' and codified it in the flawed International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's 'working definition' of antisemitism. This text is the glue holding together an international network comprising the Israeli government, pro-Israel advocacy groups, Zionist organisations, Jewish communal defence bodies and sympathetic governments fighting a war against those who would criticise Israel."--

Do corporations own the genetic codes to our future? McGiffen explores who's in control and what it means.

Baez uses Cuba as a case for a general critique of globalization and contemporary arguments on political resistance.

Clear and concise student guide that shows how Marxist theory can illuminate media studies.