The Radicalism Handbook: A Complete Guide to the Radical Movement in the Twentieth Century (Global Issues) - Softcover

Button, John

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0304327115 ISBN 13: 9780304327119

Publisher: UNKNO, 1995

Synopsis

This handbook presents over 350 biographies of 20th-century radicals including freethinkers, campaigners for human, gay and women's rights, Third World liberationists and global and environmental activists. It also profiles over 80 radical groups and movements, including the ANC, ACT UP and the Women's Liberation Movement, that have played an important role in shaping politics and society in the 20th century.

About this title

About the Author

John Button has been active in environmental politics for over 20 years.

From Booklist

This handbook aims to satisfy the curiosity and information needs of patrons searching the subjects "radicalism" and "radical," in terms of the left. Compiled by an environmental activist and author of A Dictionary of Green Ideas, the work is global in scope and includes radicals who worked for social change in a wide variety of areas, from the arts to women's rights. The handbook begins with an explanation of the criteria for inclusion: individuals have to be doers as well as thinkers and have to have worked for radical causes for much of their lives. An essay discusses radicalism in the twentieth century, its radical antecedents (1790^-1860) and "rebirth" (1955^-75). The author says that the 1990s present immense new challenges for the radical movement, but he is optimistic about creating the world that radicals have worked for.

The main part of the book begins with a look at "radical forerunners," 38 individuals crucial to twentieth-century radicalism--for example, William Blake, Susan B. Anthony, and Frederick Engels--who completed their life's work before 1900. The next section contains profiles of 350 twentieth-century radicals, arranged from Chinua Achebe to Emiliano Zapata. Birth and death dates (if appropriate), occupation, and a short bibliography of works by and about the person are provided along with the biography. More than 100 of these radicals are still living. Coverage is international; only 90 of those profiled are from the U.S. Some of these people will be found in such books as American Reformers (Wilson, 1985) and Leaders from the 1960s (Greenwood, 1994). The "Groups and Movements" section is also arranged alphabetically and describes organizations, cultural and political movements, events, and campaigns that have had an impact on the development of radical ideas and tactics. Groups range from ACT-UP to Las Madres de Plaza de Mayo and the Yippies. These profiles also have bibliographies. Two appendixes list radical activists by country and by main area of activity, and a third provides information on some 70 "other notable American radicals." A comprehensive subject index concludes the book.

The Radicalism Handbook is a reference work with an agenda: to show that leftist radicalism has played an important role in modern political and economic thought. Patrons seeking information on the impact of conservative radicalism will not find it here. Recommended for academic libraries.

Edition details

• Publisher: UNKNO
• Publication date: 1995
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0304327115
• ISBN 13: 9780304327119
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 480