New book: Seeing Politics Differently by Karen Stanbridge and Howard Ramos

Seeing Politics Differently
A Brief Introduction to Political Sociology
Karen Stanbridge and Howard Ramos
Oxford University Press
Series : Themes in Canadian Sociology

Seeing Politics Differently introduces students to political sociology - the study of how power is distributed within society. Arguing that politics is about much more than the debates and decisions of government, this concise text reveals how political struggles are inextricably tied to everyday life. Through thoughtful discussions of key perspectives and approaches, the authors demonstrate the importance of questioning who holds power in our society, where that power comes from, and how individuals and groups can bring about change. Publisher's web page

New book: Making Meaning Out of Mountains by Mark Stoddart

Making Meaning Out of Mountains
The Political Ecology of Skiing
Mark Stoddart
UBC Press

In Making Meaning out of Mountains, Mark Stoddart draws on interviews, field observations, and media analysis to explore how the ski industry in British Columbia has helped transform mountain environments and, in turn, how skiing has come to be inscribed with multiple, often conflicted meanings informed by power struggles rooted in race, class, and gender. Corporate leaders promote the skiing industry as sustainable development, while environmentalists and some First Nations argue that skiing sacrifices wildlife habitats and traditional lands to tourism and corporate gain.  Read more

Book reviews of interest to CNSIMC

The following book reviews appear in the Fall 2009 issue of the Canadian Journal of Sociology (34, 3):

Cecil Foster, Blackness and Modernity: The Colour of Humanity and the Quest for Freedom (Roberta Hamilton), pp. 916-919

Jennifer J. Nelson, Razing Africville: A Geography of Racism (Don Clairmont), pp. 920-922

Haideh Moghissi, Saeed Rahnema, and Mark J. Goodman, Diaspora by Design: Muslims in Canada and Beyond (Abdie Kazemipur), pp. 923-925

Micheline Labelle, François Rocher et Rachad Antonius, Immigration, diversité et sécurité: les associations arabo-musulmanes face à l'État au Canada et au Québec (Zeina Sleiman), pp. 926-929

Hiromi Mizuno, Science for the Empire: Scientific Nationalism in Modern Japan (Grégoire Mallard), pp. 930-932

Kelly Moore, Disrupting Science: Social Movements, American Scientists, and the Politics of the Military, 1945–1975 (Ronjon Paul Datta), pp. 933-934

Tina Fetner, How The Religious Right Shaped Lesbian and Gay Activism (Thomas John Linneman), pp. 947-949

Kristen Bumiller, In an Abusive State: How Neoliberalism Appropriated the Feminist Movement against Sexual Violence (Judith K Taylor), pp. 950-952

Kathleen M. Fallon, Democracy and the Rise of Women’s Movements in Sub-Saharan Africa (Julie Lyn Kaye), pp. 953-955

John Hagan and Wenona Rymond-Richmond, Darfur and the Crime of Genocide (Augustine SJ Park), pp. 956-959

Ron Eyerman, The Assassination of Theo van Gogh: From Social Drama to Cultural Trauma (Frank J. Lechner), pp. 960-962

Mabel Berezin, Illiberal Politics in Neoliberal Times: Culture, Security, and Populism in the New Europe (Andrej S Zaslove), pp. 963-965

Martin Koopman et Stéphane Martens (dir.), L'Europe prochaine. Regards franco-allemands sur l'avenir de l'Union européenne (Mathieu Petithomme), pp. 966-968

new book on political protest

Although its focus is American, and its author is a legal scholar, this new book looks interesting for those of us researching public political protest. (I'm posting this in part to show the variety of content that might appear here). Jim

Timothy Zick, Speech Out of Doors: Preserving First Amendment Liberties in Public Places. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2008, 362 pp. $US 29.99 paper (978-0-521-73196-6), $US 90.00 hardcover (978-0-521-51730-0)
Publisher's blurb: Even in an age characterized by increasing virtual presence and communication, speakers still need physical places in which to exercise First Amendment liberties. This book examines the critical intersection of public speech and spatiality. Through a tour of various places on what the author calls the “expressive topography,” the book considers a variety of public speech activities including sidewalk counseling at abortion clinics, residential picketing, protesting near funerals, assembling and speaking on college campuses, and participating in public rallies and demonstrations at political conventions and other critical democratic events. This examination of public liberties, or speech out of doors, shows that place can be as important to one’s expressive experience as voice, sight, and auditory function. Speakers derive a host of benefits, such as proximity, immediacy, symbolic function, and solidarity, from message placement. Unfortunately, for several decades the ground beneath speakers’ feet has been steadily eroding. The causes of this erosion are varied and complex; they include privatization and other loss of public space, legal restrictions on public assembly and expression, methods of policing public speech activity, and general public apathy. To counter these forces and reverse at least some of their effects will require a focused and sustained effort – by public officials, courts, and of course, the people themselves.