Synopses & Reviews
The Power of Identity is the second volume of Manuel Castells trilogy The Information Age: Economy, Society, and Culture. It deals with the social, political, and cultural dynamics associated with the technological transformation of our societies and with the globalization of the economy.
A brilliant account of social, cultural and political conflict and struggle all over the world.
Analyzes the importance of cultural, religious and national identity as sources of meaning for people, and its implications for social movement.
Throws new light on the dynamics of global and local change.
New sections have been added on Al Qaeda and global terrorist networks, on the anti-globalization movement, American unilateralism and the conflicts of global governance, the crisis of political legitimacy throughout the world and the theory of network states.
Review
"Every now and then one reads a book of social science that is uplifting and mind-expanding. These books are ambitious and lustrous, teaching us much about our world. Such is this work from the brilliant sociologist Manuel Castells. There is no other sociological work today that brings together in one panoramic expanse so many of the changes now occurring. This is a story not simply of global economic change, but of cultural upheavals. It is a tale not simply of the decline of sovereign states, but of the emergence of the new bases of power. And it is a narrative not merely about computer technology or the media, but of the very terms in which those agents work."
Contemporary Sociology "A magnum opus if ever there was one. In my view, the finest piece of contemporary social analysis for at least a generation." British Journal of Sociology
"A truly stunning achievement. A scholar who, with remarkable mastery, has brought his experience over a lifetime to bear on astonishingly diversified data set, pulling them together into a compelling account of the complex relationship between the progressive and the reactionary, the globalizing and particularizing forces that are transforming our perplexing world." The Los Angeles Times Sunday Book Reviews
"This is a powerful and insightful book that adds to Castell's reputation as one of the foremost social theorists writing today, and it offers something of interest to specialist and general readers alike." Autobiography Journal
Synopsis
The Power of Identity is the second volume of Manuel Castells’ trilogy, The Information
About the Author
Manuel Castells, born in Spain in 1942, is Professor of Sociology and Professor of Planning at the University of California, Berkeley, and Research Professor of Information Society at the Open University of Catalonia, Barcelona. Before being appointed to Berkeley in 1979 he was Associate Professor of Sociology at the University of Paris. He has been a visiting professor at 16 universities around the world, and has received honorary doctorates from several universities. He is the recipient of numerous academic awards, including the C. Wright Mills Award, and the Robert and Helen Lynd Award from the American Sociological Association. He is a member of the European Academy. He has published 25 books, among which is the trilogy The Information
Table of Contents
List Of Figures.
List Of Tables.
List Of Charts.
Acknowledgments.
Our World, Our Lives.
1. Communal Heavens: Identity And Meaning In The Network Society:.
The Construction Of Identity.
God’s Heavens: Religious Fundamentalism And Cultural Identity.
Umma Versus Jahiliya: Islamic Fundamentalism.
God Save Me! American Christian Fundamentalism.
Nations And Nationalisms In The Age Of Globalization: Imagined Communities Or Communal Images?.
Nations Against The State: The Breakup Of The Soviet Union And The Commonwealth Of Impossible States (Sojuz Nevozmoznykh Gosudarstv).
Nations Without A State: Catalunya.
Nations Of The Information Age.
Ethnic Unbonding: Race, Class, And Identity In The Network Society.
Territorial Identities: The Local Community.
Conclusion: The Cultural Communes Of The Information Age.
2. The Other Face Of The Earth: Social Movements Against The New Global Order:.
Globalization, Informationalization, And Social Movements.
Mexico’s Zapatistas: The First Informational Guerrilla Movement.
Who Are The Zapatistas?.
The Value Structure Of The Zapatistas: Identity, Adversaries, And Goals.
The Communication Strategy Of The Zapatistas: The Internet And The Media.
The Contradictory Relationship Between Social Movement And Political Institution.
Up In Arms Against The New World Order: The American Militia And The Patriot Movement In The 1990s.
The Militias And The Patriots: A Multi-Thematic Information Network.
The Patriots’ Banners.
Who Are The Patriots?.
The Militia, The Patriots, And American Society In The 1990s.
The Lamas Of Apocalypse: Japan’s Aum Shinrikyo.
Asahara And The Development Of Aum Shinrikyo.
Aum’s Beliefs And Methodology.
Aum And Japanese Society.
Al Qaeda, 9/11, And Beyond: Global Terror In The Name Of God.
The Goals And Values Of Al Qaeda.
The Evolving Process Of Al Qaeda’s Struggle.
The Mujahedeen And Their Support Bases.
The Young Lion Of The Global Jihad: Osama Bin Laden.
From Bin Laden To Bin Mahfouz: Financial Networks, Islamic Networks, Terrorist Networks.
Networking And Media Politics: The Organization, Tactics, And Strategy Of Al Qaeda.
9/11 And Beyond: Death At Birth Of A Networked, Global, Fundamentalist Movement?.
“No Globalization With Representation!”: The Anti-Globalization Movement.
“El Pueblo Desunido Jamas Sera Vencido”: The Diversity Of The Anti-Globalization Movement.
The Values And Goals Of The Movement Against Globalization.
Networking As A Political Way Of Being.
An Informational Movement: The Theatrical Tactics Of Anti-Globalization Militants.
The Movement In Context: Social Change And Institutional Change.
The Meaning Of Insurgencies Against The New Global Order.
Conclusion: The Challenge To Globalization.
3. The Greening Of The Self: The Environmental Movement:.
The Creative Cacophony Of Environmentalism: A Typology.
The Meaning Of Greening: Social Issues And The Ecologists’ Challenge.
Environmentalism In Action: Reaching Minds, Taming Capital, Courting The State, Tap-Dancing With The Media.
Environmental Justice: Ecologists’ New Frontier.
4. The End Of Patriarchalism: Social Movements, Family, And Sexuality In The Information