Synopses & Reviews
Davina Cooper addresses major questions currently facing political and social theory, particularly in relation to debates about diversity. These questions concern how we identify the boundaries of legitimate forms of difference, and understand equality and inequality as well as the challenges of sustaining differing progressive practices. Cooper links theoretical discussion to specific conflicts over social and cultural issues, such as religious symbolism, lesbian and gay marriage and cigarette smoking.
Review
"[The book's] strength is in its commitment to providing a detailed, nuanced analysis of the interrelationships among organizing principles of inequality and various other social norms and institutions." Canadian Journal of Law and Society, Nancy Ehrenreich
Synopsis
Challenging Diversity looks at the key issues facing social, political and cultural theory. Taking examples from religion, gender, sexuality, state policy-making and intentional communities, it maps new ways of understanding equality, explores the politics of its pursuit, and asks what kinds of diversity does a radical version of equality engender.
Synopsis
Challenging Diversity brings a new and original approach to key issues facing social, political and cultural theory. Critically engaging with feminist, radical democratic and liberal scholarship, the book addresses four major challenges confronting a radical equality politics. Namely, what does equality mean for preferences and choices that appear harmful; are equality's subjects individuals, groups or something else; what power do dominant norms have to undermine equality-oriented reforms; and can radical practices endure when they collide with the mainstream?
Synopsis
Addresses prominent questions currently facing political and social theory, particularly in relation to debates about difference and diversity.
About the Author
Davina Cooper is Professor of Law and Political Theory, School of Law, University of Kent and Director of the AHRB Research Centre in Law, Gender and Sexuality. Her previous publications include Sexing the City: Lesbian and Gay Politics within the Activist State (1994), Power in Struggle: Feminism, Sexuality and the State (1995), Governing Out of Order: Space, Law and the Politics of Belonging (1998).
Table of Contents
1. Introduction: mapping the terrain; 2. Diversity politics: beyond a pluralism without limits; 3. From blokes to smokes: theorising the difference; 4. Towards equality of power; 5. Normative encounters: the politics of same-sex spousal equality; 6. Getting in the way: the social power of nuisance; 7. Oppositional routines: the problem of embedding change; 8. Safeguarding community pathways: 'possibly the happiest school in the world' and other porous places; 9. Diversity through equality.