"Brings together cutting-edge accounts of social movements concerned with civil and political rights, globalization, peace, the environment, migrant and factory labour, the rights of middle- and working-class women, and sexual identity in an overarching framework of analysis that forefronts the importance of human rights and the state as a focus for social activism in a region characterized by a history of authoritarian developmentalism and weak civil society"--Provided by publisher.

"The "Rhetoric of Hope" is a form of political discourse characterized by a forward-looking vision of social progress brought about by collective effort and adherence to shared values. By combining his own personal story with national mythologies, Barack Obama creates a narrative persona that embodies the moral values and cultural mythos of his implied audience"--

Tackling the issues at the forefront of the American mind--healthcare, education, capitalism, and more America the Beautiful is indispensable reading. From four-time bestselling author, internationally renowned neurosurgeon, and humanitarian Dr. Ben Carson, here is a sobering and inspiring manifesto of America's greatness, her failings, and the values and changes it will take to carry our country into a brilliant and prosperous future.

""Are we right," Benjamin M. Friedman asks, "to care so much about economic growth as we clearly do?" To answer, Friedman reaches beyond economics. He examines the political and social histories of the large Western democracies - particularly of the United States since the Civil War - distinguishing times of generally rising living standards from those of pervasive stagnation to illustrate how rising incomes render a society more open and democratic. He shows, too, how our attitudes toward economic growth and its consequences have roots in the thinking of prior centuries, especially the Enlightenment, and also include significant strands of religious influence." "Friedman also delineates the role of economic growth in determining which developing nations extend the broadest freedoms to their citizenry. He makes clear that growth, rather than just the level of living standards, is key to effecting political and social liberalization in the third world. But he also warns that the democratic values of countries even as wealthy as our own are at risk whenever incomes stagnate for extended periods. Merely being rich is no protection against a society's retreat into rigidity and intolerance once enough of its citizens lose the sense that they are getting ahead." "Finally, Friedman shows us why, if America is to strengthen democratic institutions around the world as a bulwark against terrorism and social unrest, we must aggressively pursue growth at home and promote worldwide economic expansion beyond what purely market-driven forces would create. And for the United States, he offers concrete suggestions for policy steps to achieve those objectives."--BOOK JACKET