Individualization argues that we are in the midst of a fundamental change in the nature of society and politics. This change hinges around two processes: globalization and individualization. The book demonstrates that individualization is a structural characteristic of highly differentiated societies, and does not imperil social cohesion, but actually makes it possible. Ulrich Beck and Elisabeth Beck-Gernsheim argue that it is vital to distinguish between the neo-liberal idea of the free-market individual and the concept of individualization. The result is the most complete discussion of individualization currently available, showing how individualization relates to basic social rights and also paid employment; and concluding that in as much as basic rights are internalized and everyone wants to or must be economically active, the spiral of individualization destroys the given foundations of social co-existence.

Es posible un amor entre iguales? Existe el amor despues de la "emancipacion"? O acaso es verdad que la liberacion personal y el amor constituyen dos opuestos irreconciliables? Cuando el entusiasmo juvenil se ha perdido, cuando ya no se ven metas ni objetivos, resurge la vieja pregunta: "Quien soy?." Y entonces entra en escena otra pasion: la pasion por la autonomia, por la autoafirmacion, por la propia vida. A partir de ahi, solo quien equipara el matrimonio con la sexualidad, el amor y la convivencia puede caer en el error de creer que el divorcio significa el final del matrimonio. Pues la religion y el amor contienen una utopia analoga: son una llave para salir de la jaula de la normalidad. Este libro afirma que una de las principales caracteristicas de los tiempos que nos ha tocado vivir es el choque de intereses entre amor, familia y libertad personal. La familia nuclear, construida alrededor de la diferenciacion sexual, se esta desmembrando debido a las cuestiones que plantean la emancipacion y la igualdad ante la ley. Y ello genera el caos totalmente normal y cotidiano del amor.

Individualization argues that we are in the midst of a fundamental change in the nature of society and politics. This change hinges around two processes: globalization and individualization. The book demonstrates that individualization is a structural characteristic of highly differentiated societies, and does not imperil social cohesion, but actually makes it possible. Ulrich Beck and Elisabeth Beck-Gernsheim argue that it is vital to distinguish between the neo-liberal idea of the free-market individual and the concept of individualization. The result is the most complete discussion of individualization currently available, showing how individualization relates to basic social rights and also paid employment; and concluding that in as much as basic rights are internalized and everyone wants to or must be economically active, the spiral of individualization destroys the given foundations of social co-existence.

New York, Bern, Berlin, Bruxelles, Frankfurt/M., Oxford, Wien. Women and Social Transformation brings three women from different countries together into dialogue. Judith Butler is the most referenced author in current feminist literature, and we find the latest developments of her work in this book; Lidia Puigvert has recently reached international relevance with her contribution about the « other women, who have not yet had a voice in feminism; and Elizabeth Beck-Gernsheim complements this debate with her work about immigrant women. The authors argue the need to open feminism to the plurality of all women's voices, especially those who are in the margins. Women and Social Transformation is a debate, and speaks about transforming gender relations, taking a distance from postmodern stances, and insisting on the need for egalitarian dialogue among women. This book gives back the meaning of the feminist struggle.