Despite the extensive debate about the impact of globalization, democratization and new forms of governance, there have been surprisingly few attempts to provide an integrated account of the state in the contemporary world. Roger King and Gavin Kendall's new text is designed to fill the gap and provide an accessible but informed introduction for today's students. It covers both the rise of the state and its increasing reach and interventionism in the 20th century and argues that its power and influence are now in decline in the face of globalization and new forms of governance in the 21st century.

Understanding Culture offers an accessible and comprehensive overview of the field of cultural studies whilst also proposing a different way of `doing' cultural studies. It focuses on the ways in which cultural objects and practices serve as both a means of ordering people's lives and as markers of that ordering.

Understanding Culture offers an accessible and comprehensive overview of the field of cultural studies whilst also proposing a different way of `doing' cultural studies. It focuses on the ways in which cultural objects and practices serve as both a means of ordering people's lives and as markers of that ordering.

`As a companion to Foucault's original texts, carefully showing what he's done and why - and how that could be applied elsewhere - it's outstanding' - www.theory.org.uk

`Very much a `hands-on' tool kit of a book, scholarly but accessible.... a very useful textbook which approaches its subject in an original way' - Sociological Research Online

`At last, a student-friendly guide that answers the question: "Yes, but how do you do Foucault?" Kendall and Wickham address the thorny question of how-to-Foucault in a clear, distinctive manner that stands out in the secondary literature on this important thinker' - Toby Miller, New York University

This book provides a clear, straightforward guide to those who want to apply the work of Foucault to their own field of interest. The authors employ an accessible style to encourage readers to engage with Foucault's work by tackling the issues that students most often raise.

The book is organized around the following themes: history, archaeology, genealogy and discourse as the cornerstones of Foucault's methods; and science and culture as important objects of analysis for those using Foucault's methods. The book enables the reader to understand how Foucault's contribution to social thought can be applied and opens up possibilities for researchers to use Foucault rather than merely discuss him.

`As a companion to Foucault's original texts, carefully showing what he's done and why - and how that could be applied elsewhere - it's outstanding' - www.theory.org.uk `Very much a `hands-on' tool kit of a book, scholarly but accessible.... a very useful textbook which approaches its subject in an original way' - Sociological Research Online `At last, a student-friendly guide that answers the question: "Yes, but how do you do Foucault?" Kendall and Wickham address the thorny question of how-to-Foucault in a clear, distinctive manner that stands out in the secondary literature on this important thinker' - Toby Miller, New York University This book provides a clear, straightforward guide to those who want to apply the work of Foucault to their own field of interest. The authors employ an accessible style to encourage readers to engage with Foucault's work by tackling the issues that students most often raise. The book is organized around the following themes: history, archaeology, genealogy and discourse as the cornerstones of Foucault's methods; and science and culture as important objects of analysis for those using Foucault's methods. The book enables the reader to understand how Foucault's contribution to social thought can be applied and opens up possibilities for researchers to use Foucault rather than merely discuss him.