Crisis Under Critique: How People Assess, Transform, and Respond to Critical Situations

The concept of crisis is rethought in Crisis Under Critique to take stock of and challenge our understanding of the many predicaments in which we find ourselves, focusing on how people experience, interpret, and contribute to the making of and the response to critical situations.

Format: Hardback
Length: 456 pages
Publication date: 05 April 2022
Publisher: Columbia University Press

The term "crisis" signifies a significant disruption, a rupture, and a moment when the established order can no longer persist. However, our political discourse has become heavily influenced by the rhetoric of crisis, to the extent that what is deemed abnormal has become normalized. How can we reimagine the notion of crisis to gain a deeper understanding of the various predicaments we face?

In contrast to traditional approaches that focus on diagnosing emergencies, Didier Fassin, Axel Honneth, and a group of esteemed thinkers delve into the intricate ways in which individuals perceive, interpret, and actively contribute to the emergence and response to critical situations. Contributors explore the social origins of crises, examining a diverse range of cases across five continents through the lenses of philosophy, sociology, anthropology, political science, history, and economics. By centering the perspectives of those directly impacted, the book highlights the urgency and immediacy of crises. Crisis Under Critique offers a unique and groundbreaking intervention that challenges and redefines one of the most crucial yet ambiguous concepts of our time.

Through a comprehensive analysis that encompasses perspectives from both the grassroots and the scholarly realm, the book offers a multi-faceted understanding of crises. It delves into the social movements, intellectual engagements, affected communities, and reflexive viewpoints that shape our understanding of these critical junctures. By presenting a holistic approach, Crisis Under Critique provides a valuable resource for scholars, policymakers, and individuals seeking to navigate the complexities of our contemporary world.

Dimension: 235 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780231204323