Gregory Claeys Books

Focusing on Mill's deep engagement with Malthusianism, this book explores how this concern shaped his views on liberty. It delves into the philosophical implications of population theories on Mill's arguments, revealing a nuanced understanding of the interplay between individual freedom and societal constraints. By highlighting this often-overlooked aspect of Mill's work, the book provides fresh insights into his thoughts on the balance between personal rights and the challenges posed by population growth.

"How the utopian tradition offers answers to today's environmental crises. In the face of Earth's environmental breakdown, it is clear that technological innovation alone won't save our planet. A more radical approach is required, one that involves profound changes in individual and collective behavior. Utopianism for a Dying Planet examines the ways the expansive history of utopian thought, from its origins in ancient Sparta and ideas of the Golden Age through to today's thinkers, can offer moral and imaginative guidance in the face of catastrophe. The utopian tradition, which has been critical of conspicuous consumption and luxurious indulgence, might light a path to a society that emphasizes equality, sociability, and sustainability. Gregory Claeys unfolds his argument through a wide-ranging consideration of utopian literature, social theory, and intentional communities. He defends a realist definition of utopia, focusing on ideas of sociability and belonging as central to utopian narratives. He surveys the development of these themes during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries before examining the twentieth- and twenty-first-centuries debates about alternatives to consumerism. Claeys contends that the current global warming limit of 1.5°C (2.7°F) will result in cataclysm if there is no further reduction in the cap. In response, he offers a radical Green New Deal program which combines ideas from the theory of sociability with proposals to withdraw from fossil fuels and cease reliance on unsustainable commodities. An urgent and comprehensive search for antidotes to our planet's destruction, Utopianism for a Dying Planet asks for a revival of utopian ideas, not as an escape from reality, but as a powerful means of changing it"--Dust jacket flap

The book presents a revised timeline detailing the rise of opposition to the British Empire between 1850 and 1920. Gregory Claeys explores the various movements and ideologies that challenged imperial authority during this period, shedding light on the complexities of colonial resistance and the socio-political factors that influenced these developments. Through this analysis, the author aims to provide fresh insights into the historical narrative surrounding British imperialism and its critics.

An illuminating history of Marx's thought and intellectual influence from a leading historian of socialism Why was Marx so successful as a thinker? Did he have a system and if so, what does it consist of? How did Marxism develop in the twentieth century and what does it mean today? Karl Marx remains the most influential and controversial political thinker in history. The movements associated with his name have lent hope to many victims of tyranny and aggression but have also proven disastrous in practice and resulted in the unnecessary deaths of millions. If after the collapse of the Soviet Union his reputation seemed utterly eclipsed, a new generation is reading and discovering Marx in the wake of the recurrent financial crises, growing social inequality and an increasing sense of the injustice and destructiveness of capitalism. Both his critique of capitalism and his vision of the future speak across the centuries to our times, even if the questions he poses are more difficult to answer than ever. In this wide-ranging account, Gregory Claeys, one of Britain's leading historians of socialism, considers Marx's ideas and their development through the Russian Revolution to the present, showing why Marx and Marxism still matter today.

Argues that, since individuals are wholly formed by their environment, education is the crucial factor in transforming them. This work then adopts far more radical position, proposing nothing less than 'the emancipation of mankind' and the creation of a 'new moral world', and a full-scale reorganization of British society.

Aspirations for a better - even a perfect - society have existed throughout history, often imagined in intricate detail by philosophers, poets, social reformers, architects and artists. This book explores a perennially powerful idea: the quest for the ideal society. Gregory Claeys surveys the influence of the idea of Utopia on history. Central to his exploration of ideal worlds are creation myths; archetypes of heaven and the afterlife; new worlds and voyages of discovery; ages of revolution and technological progress; model communities and kibbutzim; political and ecological dystopias; space travel and science fiction. The most significant utopias throughout history - whether envisaged or attempted - are covered, including visions of the ideal society in the West as well as American, Asian, African and the Arab worlds. From classical times to the present day, this compelling book traces the enduring human need to imagine and construct ideal worlds.

"Dystopia: A Natural History" is the first monograph devoted to the concept of dystopia. Taking the term to encompass both a literary tradition of satirical works, mostly on totalitarianism, as well as real despotisms and societies in a state of disastrous collapse, this volume redefines the central concepts and the chronology of the genre and offers a paradigm-shifting understanding of the subject. Part One assesses the theory and prehistory of 'dystopia.' By contrast to utopia, conceived as promoting an ideal of friendship defined as 'enhanced sociability, ' dystopia is defined by estrangement, fear, and the proliferation of 'enemy' categories. A 'natural history' of dystopia thus concentrates upon the centrality of the passion or emotion of fear and hatred in modern despotisms. The work of Le Bon, Freud, and others is used to show how dystopian groups use such emotions. Utopia and dystopia are portrayed not as opposites, but as extremes on a spectrum of sociability, defined by a heightened form of group identity. The prehistory of the process whereby 'enemies' are demonised is explored from early conceptions of monstrosity through Christian conceptions of the devil and witchcraft, and the persecution of heresy. Part Two surveys the major dystopian moments in twentieth century despotisms, focussing in particular upon Nazi Germany, Stalinism, the Chinese Cultural Revolution, and Cambodia under Pol Pot. The concentration here is upon the political religion hypothesis as a key explanation for the chief excesses of communism in particular. Part Three examines literary dystopias. It commences well before the usual starting-point in the secondary literature, in anti-Jacobin writings of the 1790s. Two chapters address the main twentieth-century texts usually studied as representative of the genre, Aldous Huxley's Brave New World and George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four. The remainder of the section examines the evolution of the genre in the second half of the twentieth century down to the present

Exploring the utopian tradition, this book reveals how visionary ideas can address contemporary environmental challenges. It examines historical and philosophical perspectives, illustrating how past utopian thinkers envisioned sustainable societies. By connecting these ideals to modern ecological issues, the author provides insights and potential solutions for fostering a harmonious relationship between humanity and the environment. The work encourages readers to rethink current practices and consider innovative approaches rooted in utopian thought.

Focusing on Thomas Paine's social and political thought, the book explores his influence in both Britain and America. It delves into how his ideas were perceived during his time, aiming to reestablish his significance as a key political and social thinker. Through this investigation, the work highlights Paine's contributions and the critical role he played in shaping political discourse in his era.

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