Throughout much of the Western tradition, human subjectivity has been regarded as a major source of error. Thus, adapting universal standards devoid of corrosive human influences has been thought to be a requisite for building an optimal society. This tendency, which is predicated on social ontological realism, historically encouraged projects of colonization, as Western standards of development became synonymous with universal reason and civilization. Currently, neoliberal globalization is an extension of this realist legacy and demands all aspects of social life to be determined by the presumably universal wisdom of the market. Yet, in Latin America, neoliberalism has normalized extreme inequality and cultural mutilation as innocent outcomes of market dynamics. The present work, accordingly, draws from Alejandro Serrano Caldera, a Nicaraguan philosopher and social critic, to critique realism and develop an anti-realist social vision on which to build a new type of nation, ethic, and politics grounded on human praxis. The point is made that this anti-realist shift offers the possibility to democratize the current process of globalization.

How has Barack Obama done in his first term as a "progressive president," especially in relation to his campaign assertions? This book analyzes the performance of Obama and his administration in promoting progressive causes in a wide range of policy areas, including the economy, education, immigration, healthcare reform, criminal justice, and foreign affairs. Grading the 44th President: A Report Card on Barack Obama's First Term as a Progressive Leader is written in clear language that is free of jargon and from a leftist perspective, offering a comprehensive analysis and critique of Obama's performance as a progressive president during his first term. The authors provide in-depth analyses with respect to Obama's handling of specific issues, including the economy, education, healthcare, criminal justice policy, the environment, immigration, Iraq and Afghanistan, race relations, gender issues, and gay/lesbian issues, covering topics in detail that general biographies of Obama and examinations of his political career miss. This book presents clear, accessible information for general readers, and contains in-depth discussion of topics useful to high school, college, and university students of sociology, government, political science, philosophy, and history.

In recent years, debates surrounding "political correctness" (PC) have once again intensified in the United States and other Western countries. Although PC has a long history, the term today is typically associated with a type of leftist-progressive puritanism that prevents people from speaking their minds or voicing uncomfortable truths that might "offend" members of marginalized groups or communities. In many respects, the political ascendancy of Donald J. Trump, and his appeal to millions of people not only in the USA, but around the world, hinges on the belief that his presidency represents a repudiation of the repressiveness associated with PC. Indeed, throughout his political campaign, Trump declared himself to be an "anti-PC" president who would always "speak his mind" and "tell it like it is." However, while many celebrated Trump's maverick, anti-PC stance, others saw this as an attack on basic standards of decency and civil discourse.Timely and important, this collection is authored by scholars from various disciplines, and will be of interest to educators, undergraduate and graduate students, as well as anyone interested in the debates associated with the so-called "culture wars" in the West. Each chapter addresses how the PC debate has continued to shape social and political discourse in different areas, including race relations, gender issues, terrorism and national security, higher education, the media, and immigration. The point is made that while some of the criticisms directed against PC are worthy of serious consideration and discussion, it is also true that PC, particularly in the era of Trump, has been increasingly employed as a form of ideological scapegoat to delegitimize and roll back language, attitudes, values, behaviors, and policies that are vital for promoting objectives associated with gender and racial equality, human rights, democracy, empathy, fairness, multiculturalism, and inclusive curricula.