Global Age

Many authors who discuss the idea of globalization see it as
continuing pre-established paths of development of modern
societies. Post-modernist writers, by contrast, have lost sight of
the importance of historical narrative altogether. Martin Albrow
argues that neither group is able to recognize the new era which
stares us in the face. A history of the present needs an explicit
epochal theory to understand the transition to the Global Age.

When globality displaces modernity there is a general
decentering of state, government, economy, culture, and community.
Albrow calls for a recasting of the theory of such institutions and
the relations between them. He finds an open potential for society
to recover its abiding significance in the face of the declining
nation state. At the same time a new kind of citizenship is
emerging.

This important book will provoke both radicals and
conservatives. Its scholarship ranges widely across the social
sciences and humanities. It is bound to promote wide
cross-disciplinary debate.

Autorentext
Martin Albrow, State University of New York Stony Brook

Zusammenfassung
Many authors who discuss the idea of globalization see it as continuing pre-established paths of development of modern societies. Post-modernist writers, by contrast, have lost sight of the importance of historical narrative altogether. Martin Albrow argues that neither group is able to recognize the new era which stares us in the face. A history of the present needs an explicit epochal theory to understand the transition to the Global Age. When globality displaces modernity there is a general decentering of state, government, economy, culture, and community. Albrow calls for a recasting of the theory of such institutions and the relations between them. He finds an open potential for society to recover its abiding significance in the face of the declining nation state. At the same time a new kind of citizenship is emerging.

This important book will provoke both radicals and conservatives. Its scholarship ranges widely across the social sciences and humanities. It is bound to promote wide cross-disciplinary debate.

Inhalt
Introduction.

1. Resuming the History of Epochs.

2. The Construction of Nation-State Society.

3. The Decay of the Modern Project.

4. Globalization: Theorizing the Transition.

5. Historical Narrative for the New Age.

6. Configurations of the Global Age: Systems.

7. Configurations of the Global Age: People.

8. The Future State and Society.

9. The Global Age Hypothesis.

Notes.

References.

Index.