Explorations in Difference (Theory/Culture) [Hardcover]

Jonathan Hart (Editor), Richard W. Bauman (Editor), Jules Deschenes (Foreword)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 246 pages
• Publisher: University of Toronto Press (February 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0802006930
• ISBN-13: 978-0802006936
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #10,595,149 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Difference under scrutiny, January 2, 2005

By 

Panayotis ZAMAROS (Switzerland) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Explorations in Difference (Theory/Culture) (Hardcover)

In mirroring the postmodern challenge to notions of unity, this collection of essays presents ranges of views on difference in law, culture, and politics concerning identity and difference in a Hegelian fashion, in the midst of the Lyotard-Habermas debates, to highlight some disquiet about postmodern assumptions.

It presents ranges of views on difference in law, culture, and politics under two sections.

`Theoretical accounts' that map difference along with community in terms of rights relationships and Kantian autonomy (Nedelsky, Chambers), or community and dialogue in a Du Bois fashion (Norris). Next, with cultural identity (Chambers), and last, some disquiet about difference while presenting it as a challenge to the modern state and as an antidote to false universalism of emancipation theories(Sypnowich): `difference is bound to defeat the political theories which seek to emphasize and resolve it' (p.124).

`Instances' that examine Canadian and international cases that include feminine views of emancipation à la Jaggard (Noonan), and the political rhetoric surrounding the Irish hunger strikes (Devlin). Further, the conflict of rights between cultures, namely aboriginal and European (Denis), and the emancipatory politics of the enlightenment and of the French revolution when inscribed in the New World colonies (McCallum).

Overall, an interesting collection of essays to be used together with texts concerned with cultural and ethic studies, even though the treatment of difference tends to be more (unfortunately) implicit rather than explicit, with the notable exception maybe of Sypnowich who skillfully brings "difference" and (democratic) "equity" under tension - an important issue to be pursued further.