[Marxism] (no subject)

[Mastaneh Shah-Shuja]

New Book Information (An OpenMute Publication)
Zones of Proletarian Development
Mastaneh Shah-Shuja
 
In this book, Mastaneh Shah-Shuja presents a novel approach for the study-extension of the social movement. Employing conceptual tools from Marx, Vygotsky, Bakhtin and Activity Theory she examines the interaction of individuals within crowds in a variety of settings including London May Day celebrations, riotous Iranian carnivals, the anti-poll-tax rebellion, the great anti-war demonstration of 15 February 2003 and a number of historical and contemporary political organisations. She identifies ‘zones of proximal Development’ (Vygotsky) where people learn from each other, solve social problems, develop consciousness and engage in collective meaning-making. 
 
Crucially, she demonstrates how capitalism is metamorphosing at a number of fronts simultaneously. She shows how new methods of exploitation and accumulation are being challenged by an emerging universal class unencumbered by some of the limitations of previous struggles. The reactionary nature of liberalism, social democracy, fascism and bolshevism are examined whilst the once-radical ideologies of left communism, council communism, anarchism, autonomist marxism, libertarian socialism and situationism are subjected to critical interrogation. 
 
Imaginatively presented, with a collection of illustrations, Zones of
Proletarian Development captures the increasing complexities of the class struggle in the twenty-first century and offers concrete suggestions for organising against capitalism.
 
Table of contents
     Introduction 
     Chapter one - Epistemology, Methodology and Method 
     Chapter two- Vygotskian May Days 
     Chapter three- Iranian football riots as Bakhtinian carnivalesque 
     Chapter four- Activity Theory and Social Movements: Two case studies 
     Chapter five- Towards a new kind of revolutionary organising 
     Appendix 1- Mindful Thuggery and the Spectacularisation of Drama 
     Appendix 2- The Glorious Proletarian Siege of Oxford Street 
     References 
 
Subjects:
Political Science-History & Theory - Radical Thought; 
Psychology-Social Psychology; 
Social Science-Sociology - Social Theory
 
ISBN: 978-1-906496-06-7 pbk.
May 2008, 244x170 mm, c.. 360 pages
Recommended retail price:  ?15/?21/$30
 
 
Please send reviews/comments to Mastaneh Shah-Shuja: <m.shahshuja {AT} yahoo.com> 
 
 
 
 
This book can be ordered from all good bookshops including Amazon:
 
For Amazon in UK go to http://www.amazon.co.uk/Zones-Proletarian-Development-Mastaneh-Shah-Shuja/dp/1906496064 
 
For Amazon in USA go to http://www.amazon.com/Zones-Proletarian-Development-Mastaneh-Shah-Shuja/dp/1906496064/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1209735928&sr=1-1 
 
 
Other bookshops you can order it from:
 
The New Social Worker Online go to http://shop.socialworker.com/Poverty-11294-1906496064-Zones_of_Proletarian_Development.html 
 
Eruditor.com go to http://www.eruditor.com/books/item/9781906496067.html.en 
 
Blackwell go to http://bookshop.blackwell.co.uk/jsp/display_product_info.jsp;jsessionid=9518B86EDF540D371C4B07D9AF52CB10.bobcatt1?isbn=9781906496067 
 
Author's biography: Mastaneh Shah-Shuja is an independent researcher from an Afghani-Iraqi background although she has also lived extensively in both Iran and Russia. She is currently living in the United Kingdom with her two children. Mastaneh has been involved in anti-capitalist politics since her early teens.