[xmca] New Book: Zones of Proletarian Development

From: Phil Chappell <philchappell who-is-at mac.com>
Date: Sun Jul 20 2008 - 16:26:53 PDT

Apologies for cross-posting
Phil

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

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. Please send reviews/
comments to Mastaneh Shah-Shuja at: 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

For Amazon in Canada go to
http://www.amazon..ca/Zones-Proletarian-Development-Mastaneh-Shah-
Shuja/dp/1906496064

For Amazon in Japan go to
http://www.amazon.co.jp/Zones-Proletarian-Development-Mastaneh-Shah-
shuja/dp/1906496064/ref=sr_1_8/503-4060494-
3574325?ie=UTF8&s=english-books&qid=1209735460&sr=1-8

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;jsessio
nid=9518B86EDF540D371C4B07D9AF52CB10.bobcatt1?isbn=9781906496067

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Received on Sun Jul 20 16:27 PDT 2008

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