Change and the Politics of Certainty

The book engages with our desire to seek change in a world of increasing inequality, exclusion and violence. Deploying practical, academic and autobiographical illustrations, the book argues that although we might need to traverse the fantasy of certainty and security, we do not need to give up on hope.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 256 pages
Publication date: 09 May 2019
Publisher: Manchester University Press

Renowned politics scholar Jenny Edkins delves into the urgent need for change in a world plagued by inequality, violence, persecution, and injustice. In her ten-chapter book, Change and the Politics of Certainty, she examines our diverse reactions to pressing issues such as famine relief, opposition to the Iraq War, humanitarian intervention, the memorialization of 9/11, enforced disappearances, and demands for justice following the Grenfell Tower fire. Drawing on insights from her own experiences and the works of playwrights, filmmakers, and thinkers like Lauren Berlant, Judith Butler, Jacques Derrida, Michel Foucault, Stuart Hall, Eric Santner, Elaine Scarry, Carolyn Steedman, and Slavoj Žižek, Edkins critically interrogates these ideas. The book explores themes such as the illusion of security, contemporary notions of time and space, and concepts of humanity and sentience, making it a valuable resource for anyone seeking a better world.

Introduction:
In a world that is characterized by inequality, violence, persecution, and injustice, the call for change is louder than ever. However, the challenges that lie ahead are daunting, and it is often difficult to know where to begin. Renowned politics scholar Jenny Edkins explores these questions in her book, Change and the Politics of Certainty. Over the course of ten chapters, Edkins examines our varied responses to pressing issues and challenges us to think critically about the ideas and beliefs that shape our world.

Change and the Politics of Certainty:
The book begins by examining our varied responses to questions such as aid in times of famine, opposition to the Iraq War, humanitarian intervention, the memorialization of 9/11, enforced disappearance, and calls for justice after the Grenfell Tower fire. Edkins draws on insights from her own life and the work of playwrights, filmmakers, and thinkers to interrogate the ideas of these thinkers and explore the complexities of our responses to these crises.

One of the central themes of the book is the fantasy of security. Edkins argues that our desire for security is often rooted in our fear of the unknown and our desire to control the world around us. However, she also points out that the pursuit of security can lead to violence, oppression, and injustice. Edkins explores the ways in which our ideas about security are shaped by our cultural, social, and political contexts and how these ideas can perpetuate inequality and violence.

Another theme that Edkins explores is contemporary notions of time and space. She argues that our understanding of time and space is shaped by our technological advancements and our experiences of globalization. However, she also points out that these notions can be limiting and can perpetuate inequality and injustice. Edkins explores the ways in which our understanding of time and space can be challenged and how we can create a more inclusive and just world.

Ideas of humanity and sentience are also central to Edkins' book. She argues that our ideas about humanity and sentience are shaped by our cultural, social, and political contexts and that these ideas can perpetuate inequality and injustice. Edkins explores the ways in which our understanding of humanity and sentience can be challenged and how we can create a more inclusive and just world.

Conclusion:
In conclusion, Jenny Edkins' book, Change and the Politics of Certainty, is a powerful and thought-provoking exploration of the urgent need for change in a world plagued by inequality, violence, persecution, and injustice. Edkins challenges us to think critically about the ideas and beliefs that shape our world and to explore the complexities of our responses to these crises. Through her insights and analysis, Edkins provides us with a roadmap for creating a more inclusive and just world.

Weight: 332g
Dimension: 212 x 136 x 19 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781526119032