Creating a Better World: Interpreting Global Civil Society

* Takes an interdisciplinary approach to interpreting global civil society
* Contributors are some of the leading theoreticians in the field
* A sound handbook for activism

The term "global civil society" has become a catchphrase of our times. But efforts to define and interpret what global civil society actually is have led to ambiguity and dispute. This major work of scholarship and advocacy pierces through the generalizations and debates. It presents cogent examples of groups within civil society—from the Seattle and Genoa protesters to transnational grassroots movements, such as Slum/Shack Dwellers International—that are creatively meeting the challenges and opportunities of an increasingly interconnected world.

The contributors offer clarity and the hope that another world is possible—one in which civil society’s global networks can effectively create a free, fair, and just global order. Scholars, students, and anyone interested in understanding new forces influencing contemporary world politics will want to have this book on their shelves.

Eleven contributions from international academics and activists explore the meaning and significance of global civil society. Taking an interdisciplinary perspective that bridges sociology and political science, they address such topics as the Seattle WTO protests, the new labor internationalism, and European environmentalism. The papers were originally presented at a symposium held at the U. of Bergen (Norway) in May 2002. Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

Rupert Taylor is Associate Professor of Political Studies at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. He has written widely in the areas of South African politics and the Northern Ireland conflict. Publications include articles in African Affairs, Ethnic and Racial Studies, Peace and Change, Race and Class, The Round Table, and Telos. He is currently editor of Voluntas: International Journal of Voluntary and Nonprofit Organizations.