Synopses & Reviews
In what ways are the meaning and practice of politics changing? Why might so many people feel dissatisfied and disaffected with electoral politics? What approaches do political activists use to raise issues and mobilize people for action? What role do the Internet and social media play in contemporary citizenship and activism? This truly interdisciplinary book offers answers to all of these questions. Bringing together international academics, political activists, and campaigners, it explores the meaning of politics and citizenship in contemporary society and the current forms of political (dis)engagement. This book offers a rare dialogue between analysts and activists and will be especially valuable to academics and students across the social sciences, in particular sociology and political science.
Synopsis
This broad-ranging text examines the big issues about political attitudes, behavior and participation in contemporary Britain. Written by a leading expert and drawing on extensive research, this will be essential reading for all students of British politics and everyone involved in the world of politics and policy.
About the Author
PAUL WHITELEY is Professor of Government, University of Essex and Director of the ESRC Democracy and Participation Programme. He won an award fro the Political Studies Association in 2003 for his achievements in bringing political science to a general audience.
PATRICK SEYD is Professor of Politics at Sheffield University. Together they have written authoritative accounts of grass roots participation in each of the main British political parties and are at present completing one on Citizenship.
Table of Contents
Introduction - Nathan Manning
PART ONE The changing landscape of politics
Does participation always have a democratic spirit? - Michele Micheletti
Love always wins: All Out’s campaign for equality everywhere - Andre Banks
Social media and political participation: BBC World Service and the Arabic Spring - Marie Gillespie, Nesrine Abdel Sattar and Mina Lami
PART TWO Contemporary political (dis)engagements
Feeling politics: the importance of emotions for understanding electoral (dis)engagement - Nathan Manning
UK Uncut: direct action against austerity - Tim Street
Doubly Disillusioned? Young Muslims and mainstream British politics - Parveen Akhtar
PART THREE The politics of identity and marginalisation
Political engagement among ethnic minority young people: exploring new grammars of action - Therese O’Toole
'Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere' - Francine Fernandes
Political participation is self-interest... but not in the way you might think - Stephen Reicher, Yashpal Jogdand and Caoimhe Ryan
Conclusion: politics as an open-ended process - Nathan Manning