Peadar Kirby

Timely and unique, this innovative volume provides a critical examination of the role of civil society and its relation to the state throughout left-led Latin American. Featuring a broad range of case studies from across the region - from the Bolivian constitution to participative budgeting in Brazil to the 'communal councils' in Venezuela - the book examines to what extent these new initiatives are redefining state-civil society relations. Does the return of an active state in Latin America imply the incorporation of civil society representatives in decision-making processes? Is the new Left delivering on the promise of participatory democracy and a redefinition of citizenship, or are we witnessing a new democratic deficit?

A wide-ranging analysis of a vital issue - both for Latin America and beyond.… (más)

This is an insightful and intelligent examination of neo-liberal/corporate globalization and its effects on human well-being. Kirby identifies such forms of globalization as the primary cause of increasing rates of vulnerability and violence world-wide and argues, drawing on Polyani and others, for a conception of economics that is embedded in the social. In other words, the current system of neo-liberal globalization treats society (and individuals and the environment) as a means to an economic end (accumulation of wealth) rather than treating economics and accumulation as means to social ends (human health and well-being). Along the way, Kirby criticizes media conglomeration and consumerism. In fact, the book's primary weakness is that at times it seems to meander into topics that are only tangentially related, but he makes good use of summaries and conclusions to tie his tangents back to his argument.… (más)