Christopher McMahon – författare

Should the democratic exercise of authority that we take for granted in the realm of government be extended to the managerial sphere? Exploring this question, Christopher McMahon develops a theory of government and management as two components of an integrated system of social authority that is essentially political in nature. He then considers where in this structure democratic decision making is appropriate. McMahon examines the main varieties of authority: the authority of experts, authority grounded in a promise to obey, and authority justified as facilitating mutually beneficial cooperation. He also discusses the phenomenon of managerial authority, the authority that guides nongovernmental organization, and argues that managerial authority is best regarded not as the authority of a principal over an agent, but rather as authority that facilitates mutually beneficial cooperation among employees with different moral aims. Viewed in this way, there is a presumption that managerial authority should be democratically exercised by employees.Originally published in 1994.The Princeton Legacy Library uses the latest print-on-demand technology to again make available previously out-of-print books from the distinguished backlist of Princeton University Press. These editions preserve the original texts of these important books while presenting them in durable paperback and hardcover editions. The goal of the Princeton Legacy Library is to vastly increase access to the rich scholarly heritage found in the thousands of books published by Princeton University Press since its founding in 1905.

AAA videogames often offer expansive experiences to the millions who engage with the medium, but they are vulnerable to disruption from neoliberal structures. The Corruption of Play explores how neoliberal ideology corrupts play in AAA videogames by creating conditions in which play becomes unbound from leisure, allowing play to be understood, undertaken, and assessed in economic terms, and fundamentally undermining the nature of play.

Providing a cutting-edge and innovative approach to this problem, McMahon uses cognitive mapping to make neoliberalism visible in play-space, showcasing a new way of seeing and understanding how play is enabled and how the player forms an understanding of themselves by it. How does the player form their sense of self in the videogame? What level of agency does the player have? How are AAA videogames consumed and what is the extent of the corruption of play?

Offering a timely level-up to the existing critical work on videogames, McMahon’s revelations that play in AAA videogames does not often occur under ideal conditions due to the influence of neoliberal ideology are a captivating read for communication and media scholars interested in videogames. Understanding that play should be a core activity, and a natural barrier to market and economic logics, McMahon sets the scene for equipping us to understand how the process of neo liberalisation can be resisted.

AAA videogames often offer expansive experiences to the millions who engage with the medium, but they are vulnerable to disruption from neoliberal structures. The Corruption of Play explores how neoliberal ideology corrupts play in AAA videogames by creating conditions in which play becomes unbound from leisure, allowing play to be understood, undertaken, and assessed in economic terms, and fundamentally undermining the nature of play.

Providing a cutting-edge and innovative approach to this problem, McMahon uses cognitive mapping to make neoliberalism visible in play-space, showcasing a new way of seeing and understanding how play is enabled and how the player forms an understanding of themselves by it. How does the player form their sense of self in the videogame? What level of agency does the player have? How are AAA videogames consumed and what is the extent of the corruption of play?

Offering a timely level-up to the existing critical work on videogames, McMahon’s revelations that play in AAA videogames does not often occur under ideal conditions due to the influence of neoliberal ideology are a captivating read for communication and media scholars interested in videogames. Understanding that play should be a core activity, and a natural barrier to market and economic logics, McMahon sets the scene for equipping us to understand how the process of neo liberalisation can be resisted.

In an era of buyouts by consortia and sovereign wealth funds, the relationship between football clubs and their fan communities has never been under such strain.

Examining models of football club ownership and how they clash with fan ideals, Contradictions in Fan Culture and Club Ownership in Contemporary English Football considers the fan – or at least, some idealised, all-encompassing image of the fan – as the underlying foundation for the ideological structures of football. Grounded in discussions of class, chapters tackle the dynamic by which football organisations, as global businesses, often operate in ways contrary to the perceived ‘essence’ or values of the sports club at the heart of their operation. Providing insight into different notions of football club ownership, specifically the Public Limited Company (PLC), the billionaire’s ‘plaything,’ the sportswashing project, the ‘remodel’ and asset stripping, the authors raise significant issues and dilemmas faced by football club fandoms. Does the unifying entity that holds a significant place in the hearts and minds of individuals and communities even exist anymore?

Showcasing a robust conceptual model primed for use in future studies, this work offers a close analysis of the culture of the fast-moving football club ownership world, football fandom and consumption, and what it might mean for the future of the sport.

In an era of buyouts by consortia and sovereign wealth funds, the relationship between football clubs and their fan communities has never been under such strain.

Examining models of football club ownership and how they clash with fan ideals, Contradictions in Fan Culture and Club Ownership in Contemporary English Football considers the fan – or at least, some idealised, all-encompassing image of the fan – as the underlying foundation for the ideological structures of football. Grounded in discussions of class, chapters tackle the dynamic by which football organisations, as global businesses, often operate in ways contrary to the perceived ‘essence’ or values of the sports club at the heart of their operation. Providing insight into different notions of football club ownership, specifically the Public Limited Company (PLC), the billionaire’s ‘plaything,’ the sportswashing project, the ‘remodel’ and asset stripping, the authors raise significant issues and dilemmas faced by football club fandoms. Does the unifying entity that holds a significant place in the hearts and minds of individuals and communities even exist anymore?

Showcasing a robust conceptual model primed for use in future studies, this work offers a close analysis of the culture of the fast-moving football club ownership world, football fandom and consumption, and what it might mean for the future of the sport.