In recent years there has been a resurgence of interest in alienation by writers throughout the world. At least in the economically advanced nations, one reason for the rediscovery of alienation is the need for a term to denote the relatively new phenomenon of dissatisfaction in the midst of material prosperity and political freedom. The contributors to this volume collectively seek a concept of alienation that will be a useful tool in social diagnosis--a key to identifying causes of undesirable social conditions. The result is a collection of essays in policy-oriented social theory, keyed to problems of modern life at the end of the twentieth century and written from richly diverse cultural, political, and philosophical backgrounds. The linchpin of the volume is the essay by Melvin Seeman, which discusses and connects two distinct approaches to alienation theory, one that emphasizes subjective feelings and one that emphasizes social structures as definitive of alienation. The other essays range from theoretical critiques of Marxist and Durkheimian explanations, to the role of alienation in political systems in East and West, to empirical studies in Swedish factories and among Israeli kibbutzim. In all the essays, the idea of alienation as a loss of the sense of belonging to community plays a role. Some of the essays are critical of a communitarian approach, some deal with it obliquely and others overtly espouse it. All are policy oriented, suggesting explicitly or indirectly work- and community- dealienation strategies for modern industrial societies. This book is useful as a supplementary text in social and political philosophy courses, and sociology and social psychology courses dealing with urban problems.

The chapters in this volume deal with timely issues regarding democracy in theory and in practice in today's globalized world. Authored by leading political philosophers of our time, they appear here for the first time. The essays challenge and defend assumptions about the role of democracy as a viable political and legal institution in response to globalization, keeping in focus the role of rights at the normative foundations of democracy in a pluralistic world. Through an examination of key topics of current relevance, with contrasting views of the leading theorists, the chapters address the most relevant theories and forms of globalization, traditional democratic paradigms and their limits, public deliberation and democratic participation, the moral hazards of imperial democracy, and the future of liberal democracy. In addition to suggesting new perspectives on democracy, they use the current debate on justice, human rights, sovereignty, and cultural relativism to shed light on enduring questions about politics, culture, and global development. This timely and provocative collection will be of interest to anyone concerned with democracy, human rights, global justice, economic development, poverty, international law, peace, and various aspects of globalization.

The chapters in this volume deal with timely issues regarding democracy in theory and in practice in today's globalized world. Authored by leading political philosophers of our time, they appear here for the first time. The essays challenge and defend assumptions about the role of democracy as a viable political and legal institution in response to globalization, keeping in focus the role of rights at the normative foundations of democracy in a pluralistic world. Through an examination of key topics of current relevance, with contrasting views of the leading theorists, the chapters address the most relevant theories and forms of globalization, traditional democratic paradigms and their limits, public deliberation and democratic participation, the moral hazards of imperial democracy, and the future of liberal democracy. In addition to suggesting new perspectives on democracy, they use the current debate on justice, human rights, sovereignty, and cultural relativism to shed light on enduring questions about politics, culture, and global development. This timely and provocative collection will be of interest to anyone concerned with democracy, human rights, global justice, economic development, poverty, international law, peace, and various aspects of globalization.