Mike O'Donnell

A timely and updated second edition, this version of Crises and Popular Dissent moves on from a focus on the causes of populism to a wider analysis of the global struggle between liberal democracy and authoritarianism, including the continuing impact of populism. Within this epoch defining conflict, O’Donnell analyses related themes such as repression/liberty, identity-culture/social-political solidarity, climate change/immigration, the impact of digital revolution, and the late modern restructuring of power and wealth. O’Donnell outlines contemporary crises in a global context, mainly in relation to Europe and the Americas and with recurrent reference to the Global South. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, supported, but without major direct military engagement, by China, Iran, and North Korea, revives, in a different form, the ‘cold war’ ideological and territorial conflict between Russia and ‘the West’. Add the deeply disturbing humanitarian and democratic issues raised by the Israel-Hamas war, O’Donnell chronicles a liberal democracy in a state of crisis. Revitalising discussion around the ‘contradiction’ in liberal democracy between free market capitalism and social inequality in the politico-cultural crises of the current century: various extra-parliamentary protest movements, of left and right are discussed. Drawing partly on democratic forms adopted by a variety of populist. and non-populist social movements, ‘radical democracy’ is introduced as a way of reorienting the liberal progressive dynamic. Centring around three broad political groupings – liberal, authoritarian, and social movements of protest – the chapters represent the different ideologies and political strategies at the core of the crises discussed. Exploring their origins, outcomes, and extrapolating their likely trajectories, O’Donnell also makes suggestions for institutional change and socio-political policy reform.

A timely and updated second edition, this version of Crises and Popular Dissent moves on from a focus on the causes of populism to a wider analysis of the global struggle between liberal democracy and authoritarianism, including the continuing impact of populism. Within this epoch defining conflict, O’Donnell analyses related themes such as repression/liberty, identity-culture/social-political solidarity, climate change/immigration, the impact of digital revolution, and the late modern restructuring of power and wealth. O’Donnell outlines contemporary crises in a global context, mainly in relation to Europe and the Americas and with recurrent reference to the Global South. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, supported, but without major direct military engagement, by China, Iran, and North Korea, revives, in a different form, the ‘cold war’ ideological and territorial conflict between Russia and ‘the West’. Add the deeply disturbing humanitarian and democratic issues raised by the Israel-Hamas war, O’Donnell chronicles a liberal democracy in a state of crisis. Revitalising discussion around the ‘contradiction’ in liberal democracy between free market capitalism and social inequality in the politico-cultural crises of the current century: various extra-parliamentary protest movements, of left and right are discussed. Drawing partly on democratic forms adopted by a variety of populist. and non-populist social movements, ‘radical democracy’ is introduced as a way of reorienting the liberal progressive dynamic. Centring around three broad political groupings – liberal, authoritarian, and social movements of protest – the chapters represent the different ideologies and political strategies at the core of the crises discussed. Exploring their origins, outcomes, and extrapolating their likely trajectories, O’Donnell also makes suggestions for institutional change and socio-political policy reform.

Age and Generation introduces students to the main sociological and anthropological issues surrounding this topic, from childhood to old age, and focuses, in particular, on youth culture.

In this era of rapid and unsettling change, boys now more than ever face difficulties in establishing their self-image and status. In this original and challenging study Mike O'Donnell and Sue Sharpe explore how teenage boys from white, African-Caribbean and Asian backgrounds negotiate contemporary uncertainties to construct their gender identities.Drawing theoretical insights about how class, race and ethnicity critically affect the formulation of masculinities throughout, the authors examine:* the discrepancies between boys and girls' attitudes and expectations* the split between boys' formal acceptance of politically correct ideas and their informal behaviour amongst the peer group* boys' leisure pursuits including involvement in illegal activities and their selective identification with global youth culture.Uncertain Masculinities is a fascinating account of the complexity of contemporary boys' identities and will be of use to students of the sociology of youth and of gender studies.

In this era of rapid and unsettling change, boys now more than ever face difficulties in establishing their self-image and status. In this original and challenging study Mike O'Donnell and Sue Sharpe explore how teenage boys from white, African-Caribbean and Asian backgrounds negotiate contemporary uncertainties to construct their gender identities.Drawing theoretical insights about how class, race and ethnicity critically affect the formulation of masculinities throughout, the authors examine:* the discrepancies between boys and girls' attitudes and expectations* the split between boys' formal acceptance of politically correct ideas and their informal behaviour amongst the peer group* boys' leisure pursuits including involvement in illegal activities and their selective identification with global youth culture.Uncertain Masculinities is a fascinating account of the complexity of contemporary boys' identities and will be of use to students of the sociology of youth and of gender studies.

Age and Generation introduces students to the main sociological and anthropological issues surrounding this topic, from childhood to old age, and focuses, in particular, on youth culture.