Emotion and Reason in Social Change Insights from Fiction

by Girling, John

• ISBN13: 9780230000193
• ISBN10: 0230000193
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2006-09-04
• Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan

Summary

There is undeniable evidence of powerful emotions at work in the political and social life of even the most advanced countries of the modern world. The aim of this book is to understand this emotional involvement, not directly, but imaginatively, through fiction. Nevertheless, critical situations - in economy, politics and society - determine whether emotionally charged social change is constructive or destructive. This is an entirely new approach to world problems: global capitalism, neo-imperialism and modernization, environmental degradation, the struggle for women's rights and use and abuse of science.

Author Biography

JOHN GIRLING is an Independent Researcher, formerly a Senior Fellow at the Australia National University, Canberra.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements	x
Preface	xi
1. Introduction: Bridging the Emotional/Intellectual Divide	1	(26)
Night and day	2	(1)
Contradictions of modernity	2	(2)
Magic realism	4	(2)
Structure and ideology	6	(2)
Words, dreams, myths	8	(3)
Money, lust and magic	11	(3)
Theory in context	14	(6)
Note: on the Sociology of emotions	20	(7)
Part I Possession
2. Democracy or Authoritarianism: the Economy and Politics of Modernisation in Japan	27	(17)
Enduring the unendurable	27	(5)
Rich country, strong army	32	(4)
The turning point	36	(1)
Madness to materialism	37	(2)
Development and democracy	39	(5)
3. Global Capitalism	44	(27)
Dominant economy	44	(7)
Material foundation	51	(6)
Emotional motivation	57	(4)
Social implications	61	(10)
Part II Power
4. Imperialism: the Perils of Globalism	71	(28)
Things fall apart	71	(9)
'Orientalism'	80	(4)
From involvement to intervention	84	(3)
America and Vietnam, Part I: neo-realism and the language of intervention	87	(3)
America and Vietnam, Part II: the internal context and the linkage of intervention	90	(5)
America and Vietnam, Part III: intervention explained	95	(2)
Credibility	97	(2)
5. Violence	99	(20)
Will to power	99	(7)
Elemental drives	106	(7)
Nation and power	113	(6)
6. The Enigma of Politics	119	(26)
The Castle: force and law	119	(8)
Democracy - and its 'deficit'	127	(8)
Conflict and cooperation: power and values	135	(5)
Human rights	140	(5)
Part III Society: Vision and Division
7. Environment	145	(19)
Feeling about nature	145	(3)
Global warning	148	(8)
Awareness and response	156	(5)
The price of courage	161	(3)
8. Women	164	(26)
Myths and social reality	164	(6)
Transgression - and punishment	170	(3)
Inequality and discrimination	173	(8)
Factors for progress	181	(3)
Achievement and frustration	184	(6)
9. Dark Energy	190	(13)
Science and society	191	(4)
Morality and power	195	(6)
Conclusion	201	(2)
Epilogue: Theatre of the Absurd	203	(17)
The Janus aspect	203	(2)
A fatal disease	205	(2)
Wizard of Oz	207	(3)
Takes two to tango	210	(4)
Story of O	214	(4)
On reflection	218	(2)
Bibliography	220	(6)
Index	226