Cultural Political Economy

The global political economy is inescapably cultural. Whether we talk about the economic dimensions of the "war on terror", the sub-prime crisis and its aftermath, or the ways in which new information technology has altered practices of production and consumption, it has become increasingly clear that these processes cannot be fully captured by the hyper-rational analysis of economists or the slogans of class conflict. This book argues that culture is a concept that can be used to develop more subtle and fruitful analyses of the dynamics and problems of the global political economy.

Rediscovering the unacknowledged role of culture in the writings of classical political economists, the contributors to this volume reveal its central place in the historical evolution of post-war capitalism, exploring its continued role in contemporary economic processes that range from the commercialization of security practices to the development of ethical tourism. The book shows that culture plays a role in both constituting different forms of economic life and in shaping the diverse ways that capitalism has developed historically – from its earliest moments to its most recent challenges.

Providing valuable insights to a wide range of disciplines, this volume will be of vital interest to students and scholars of International Political Economy, Cultural and Economic Geography and Sociology, and International Relations.

Jacqueline Best is a Professor in the School of Political Studies at the University of Ottawa. Her work combines an interest in international political economy, international relations and political theory, with an empirical focus on international economic governance issues. Her first book, The Limits of Transparency: Ambiguity and the History of International Finance, was published by Cornell University Press in 2005. Her current research focuses on the shifting legitimizing strategies of international economic organizations.

Matthew Paterson is Professor of Political Science at the University of Ottawa. His research focuses on the intersection of International Political Economy and Global Environmental Politics. His most recent book is Automobile Politics: Ecology and Cultural Political Economy (Cambridge, 2007), and his current work focuses on the emergence of "climate capitalism." He has significant editing experience. He has co-edited two volumes (Direct Action in British Environmentalism, 2000, with Brian Doherty and Benjamin Seel, and Against Automobility, 2006, with Steffen Böhm, Campbell Jones and Chris Land) and one special issue of a journal (Global Environmental Politics, 3, 2, 2003, with David Humphreys and Lloyd Pettiford). He is also series editor of the Environmental Politics series for Routledge and, as of the 2008 issues, co-editor (with Jennifer Clapp) of Global Environmental Politics.