The endangered West : myopic elites and fragile social orders in a threatening world / John Higley.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Higley, John, author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Elite (Social sciences).

Social stratification.

Political development.

Economic development.

Physical Description:

xv, 228 pages ; 23 cm

Place of Publication:

New Brunswick (U. S. A.) : Transaction Publishers, [2016]

Summary:

The Endangered West, Bold political elites, and, during the modern era, effective social orders brought the West to world dominance, but both are weakening dramatically in the contemporary period. The Endangered West makes the case for the continuation of Western power on as wide a global basis as is prudent. Is the survival of Western influence possible, or must we resign ourselves to its eventually being subordinated to more ruthless powers? John Higley lays out the main policy lines that successful leadership will have to follow to preserve and strengthen Western societies. These include avoiding futile involvements in the internal problems of non-Western countries and preserving sufficient social order to permit public and private organizations to function. The West will also have to find a way to regularize treatment of the growing number of those who lack employment; invent new forms of useful work for Westerners to perform; inhibit large in-migrations, and discourage population growth. Above all, the West must address the threat of environmental disaster. Half the battle is to hold on to what the West has and, if possible, extend it. Progress will be made if elites and opinion leaders address societies' problems more competently. If the West's prestige is restored, world tensions may gradually subside, making meeting global problems more possible. Book jacket.

Contents:

Preface

Introduction: paradigms and explanation in social science

Limits to political and social aspiration

The West's accidental and unique economic development

Elites and political development in the West

Ideological illusions in Western societies

Social orders in the post-industrial West

The West in a threatening world

Limits on the West

Epilogue: the liberal ideal as a realistic moral standard

Bibliography.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Other Format:

Online version: Higley, John, author. Endangered West

ISBN:

9781412864145

1412864143

9781412864152

1412864151

OCLC:

952369699