What do Mexico's Zapatistas, the French National Front, Slow Food, rave subculture, and al-Qaeda all have in common? From right-wing to left-wing to no-wing, they all proudly proclaim their mission to defend their distinctive identities against modernity's homogenizing processes. This controversial book establishes fundamental similarities between anti-globalization "aurora" movements that aim to destroy the modern world and bring a radiant new dawn to humankind.
While these groups often despise one another, they nonetheless share many fundamental characteristics, goals, and attitudes. Drawing on the original writings and actions of various anti-globalist groups, the authors reveal a common tendency toward charismatic leadership, good versus evil worldviews, the quest for authentic identity, concern with ritual, and unbending demands for total commitment. These movements, however they pursue world transformation and personal transcendence, are a prominent and continuing aspect of our present condition. This book is a strong reminder that, no matter what the cause, revolution is not a thing of the past and the fervent search for another world continues.
Price: $28.00
Pages: 280
Publisher: Stanford University Press
Imprint: Stanford University Press
Publication Date:
09 March 2010
Trim Size: 9.00 X 6.00 in
ISBN: 9780804759380
Format: Paperback
"In an unusual and innovative analysis of radical social movements, Lindholm and Zúquete discuss a remarkable range of modern movements as oppositional to the homogenising processes of Western liberal market modernity... the discussion of the different movements is conducted with very impressive referencing coupled with a sustained process of letting the leaders of the movements speak for themselves. Multiple quotations in almost every case are blended into an intelligent analysis of the origins and purposes of the movements, and this alone gives the book substantial value."—Paul Rogers, Bradford University, RUSI Journal
Charles Lindholm is University Professor of Anthropology at Boston University. He is the author of seven books, including Culture and Authenticity (2008) and Is America Breaking Apart? (1999). His original fieldwork was in Swat, Northern Pakistan.
José Pedro Zúquete is a researcher in political science at the Social Sciences Institute, in Lisbon, and a research associate of the Globalism Research Center, at RMIT University, in Melbourne. His research focuses on comparative politics, leadership studies and globalization studies. He is the author of Missionary Politics in Contemporary Europe (2007).
