Soundings: One-Dimensional Politics Book

The theme of the special section of this issue of Soundings is one-dimensional politics: the contributors argue that political life today is more often focussed on managing appearances than on engaging with reality; and at the same time it can sometimes seem that the only recognized public values are those of realism and efficiency. Our political culture is gradually cutting itself off from the richness which springs from a healthy and diverse social and cultural engagement with people from all sections of society. Thus there arises a sense of ersatz politics, of politics without depth, of glittering surfaces, shows and words, none of which are attached to anything beyond, beneath or behind them.

As well as the themed section, special feature articles include: Laura Dubinsky on trade unions and first generation immigrant workers in North America; David Renton on South Africa; Isaac D. Balbus on the need to mourn the 1960s; Mark Hayes and Paul Aylward on Anti-Fascist Action; and Ann Briggs on special needs and racism; plus poems, review, songs, and stories.

Author Biography: Michael Rustin is Professor of Sociology and Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of East London. He is co-editor of soundings magazine. Wendy Wheeler is Reader in English Literature in the School of Arts and Humanities, University of North London, and author of A New Modernity? Change in Science, Literature and Politics, also published by Lawrence and Wishart.