Benjamin R. Barber Book order

A pointed argument that cities-not nation-states-can and must take the lead in fighting climate change

The book explores the struggle of alpine villages in Canton Graubunden, Switzerland, as they confront the decline of communal life in an increasingly industrialized and urbanized society. It delves into the historical roots of communal liberty, detailing the villages' thousand-year fight to preserve their traditions against external pressures, including feudal hierarchies and broader European political forces. Through this narrative, it highlights the tension between local customs and the demands of modernity.

"In the face of the most perilous challenges of our time--climate change, terrorism, poverty, and trafficking of drugs, guns, and people--the nations of the world seem paralyzed. The problems are too big for governments to deal with. Benjamin Barber contends that cities, and the mayors who run them, can do and are doing a better job than nations. He cites the unique qualities cities worldwide share: pragmatism, civic trust, participation, indifference to borders and sovereignty, and a democratic penchant for networking, creativity, innovation, and cooperation. He demonstrates how city mayors, singly and jointly, are responding to transnational problems more effectively than nation-states mired in ideological infighting and sovereign rivalries. The book features profiles of a dozen mayors around the world, making a persuasive case that the city is democracy's best hope in a globalizing world, and that great mayors are already proving that this is so"--

"Powerful and disturbing. No one who cares about the future of our public life can afford to ignore this book." —Jackson Lears

Political scientist Benjamin R. Barber analyzes the conflict between consumerist capitalism and religious, tribal fundamentalism, coining the term "Jihad versus McWorld" to describe their powerful and paradoxical interdependence.

The book explores President Clinton's relationships with influential intellectuals, highlighting his charm and the allure of political engagement he offered. Despite his efforts to connect and collaborate, he frequently left these thinkers disillusioned, revealing a pattern of unmet expectations and unfulfilled potential in their interactions.

Focusing on the concept of "strong democracy," the collection presents Benjamin Barber's significant writings that critique traditional liberal democracy's "thin representation." Emphasizing active citizen participation in public debate, Barber explores the interplay between democracy, civil society, civic education, and culture. These essays not only reinforce themes from his previous works but also advocate for a more engaged and participatory approach to democracy, challenging prevailing notions in contemporary political discourse.

Jihad vs. McWorld is a groundbreaking work, an elegant and illuminating analysis of the central conflict of our times: consumerist capitalism versus religious and tribal fundamentalism. These diametrically opposed but strangely intertwined forces are tearing apart--and bringing together--the world as we know it, undermining democracy and the nation-state on which it depends. On the one hand, consumer capitalism on the global level is rapidly dissolving the social and economic barriers between nations, transforming the world's diverse populations into a blandly uniform market. On the other hand, ethnic, religious, and racial hatreds are fragmenting the political landscape into smaller and smaller tribal units. Jihad vs. McWorld is the term that distinguished writer and political scientist Benjamin R. Barber has coined to describe the powerful and paradoxical interdependence of these forces. In this important new book, he explores the alarming repercussions of this potent dialectic for democracy. A work of persuasive originality and penetrating insight, Jihad vs. McWorld holds up a sharp, clear lens to the dangerous chaos of the post-Cold War world. Critics and political leaders have already heralded Benjamin R. Barber's work for its bold vision and moral courage. Jihad vs. McWorld is an essential text for anyone who wants to understand our troubled present and the crisis threatening our future.