The political economy of desire : international law, development and the nation state / Jennifer L. Beard ; with a foreword by Anne Orford.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Beard, Jennifer.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

International law--Philosophy.

International law.

Postcolonialism.

Law and economic development.

Physical Description:

xi, 212 pages ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

New York : Routledge-Cavendish, 2007.

Summary:

In this thought-provoking analysis of the genealogy of western capitalist 'development', The Political Economy of Desire departs from the common position that development and underdevelopment are conceptual outcomes of the Imperialist era. Instead, it positions the genealogy of development within early Christian writings in which the western theological concepts of sin, salvation, and redemption are expounded. Linking the writings of early theologians, such as Augustine and Anselm, to the processes of modern identity formation - of which phenomena such as the West, the First World, the Rule of Law and the individual subject and his or her freedoms are but a part-the concept of development is thus traced to a particularly Christian dynamic. As such, the promise of development is considered as analogous to the way in which the Word of God was used to call Christianity into being, with the promise of salvation. The Political Economy of Desire then goes on to consider how this promise continues to influence western ontology: as the capacity of development discourse to maintain the identity of the West - in generating 'knowledge' of the underdeveloped world as a fixed reality which is at once an 'Other' and yet entirely predictable and observable - is traced to a spiritual and doctrinal adaptability according to which it is able to remain an effective conqueror of souls and minds. Drawing upon legal theory, anthropology, economics, historiography, philosophy of science, theology, feminism, cultural studies and development studies, this book contains the best of interdisciplinary work in international law.

Contents:

Faith through understanding

The age is broken down

'The sovereignty of man lieth hid in knowledge'

The peace of Westphalia : words, writings, and outrageous actions

The art of development.

Notes:

"A GlassHouse book."

Includes bibliographical references (pages [182]-199) and index.

ISBN:

1904385354

0415420008

OCLC:

70230688