Joanna Williams – författare

I Så vann woke undersöker den brittiska journalisten Joanna Williams hur den ideo­logi som går under namnet woke fått ett dominerande inflytande på många samhällsområden.

På såväl skolor och universitet som myndigheter och kulturinstitutioner spelar wokevärderingar en nyckelroll. I diskussionen om ras och kön är de sedan länge ledstjärna. Även tidigare konservativa bastioner som polis och näringsliv genomsyras idag av dem. Den ökade fokuseringen på mångfaldskvoteringar, identitetspolitik och offertänkande är andra exempel på hur woke vunnit mark.

»Woke har lagt beslag på den progressiva retoriken, men i stället för att bidra till kampen mot diskriminering lägger woke grunden till nya former av diskriminering. I dag är det troligen wokeförkunnare som befaller oss att döma människor efter hudfärg, och upplyser oss om att kvinnor måste stiga åt sidan för män som identifierar sig som kvinnor.

Det finns många skäl till att utifrån idealen om demokrati, ­anti­rasism och jämlikhet göra motstånd mot wokeidéerna. Och det är bråttom att göra det om vi vill ha en genuint progressiv politik som sät­ter vanliga människor främst.

När det gäller hur man bäst bekämpar wokes inflytande lyfter jag fram det enda som förespråkarna inte kan hantera: demokratisk prövning. Om och om igen förkastas nämligen woke när människor i undersökningar, folkomröstningar eller allmänna val får säga vad de tycker.« Joanna Williams

OM FÖRFATTARENJoanna Williams är författare, journalist och direktör på tankesmedjan Cieo. I över tio år var hon verksam vid University of Kent. Idag är hon kolumnist på spiked och skriver i tidningar som Times, Spectator och Telegraph. Tidigare har hon utgivit böckerna Consuming Higher Education: Why Learning Can't Be Bought (2012), Academic Freedom in an Age of Confor­mity ­(2016) och Behöver vi fortfarande feminismen? (Karneval 2019).

SAGT OM BOKEN»En fantastisk studie som går på djupet. Efter att ha läst boken kommer du inte att tvivla på wokismens frätande och splittrande inverkan.« Frank Furedi

»Alltför ofta när människor talar om hur woke har tagit över våra elitinstitutioner gör de det i en anda av uppgivenhet, som om vårt enda hopp om att vända denna process är att påbörja en lång marsch i motsatt riktning. Inte Joanna Williams. I Så vann woke argumenterar hon övertygande för att denna auktoritära kult inte är så mäktig som den verkar och om förkämparna för liberala värderingar går samman kan den besegras.« Toby Young

»En genomtänkt, välavvägd och kraftfullt argu­men­terad bok om woke, och hur den kom att ta över våra institutioner så fullständigt att den som ifrågasätter wokes inflytande riskerar sin karriär.« Iain Dale

»En nyttig påminnelse om hur djupa skytte­gra­var­na i dagens kulturkrig är och ett viktigt fokusskifte i rikt­ning mot en genuint progressiv politik. Ett skarp­sinnigt, modigt och uppiggande kom­pend­ium.« Laura Dodsworth

»Williams för­kla­rar hur en liten minoritet inom eliter­na i Stor­bri­tannien och USA, genom att införa en anti­demo­kra­tisk revolution uppifrån, lyckades skrämma resten av eliten till tystnad eller delaktig­het. Alla som vill återupprätta förnuft, skönhet och humanitet måste läsa denna bok.« Jonathan Haidt

»Så vann woke utmanar den skadliga och endimen­sio­­nel­la berättelsen som delar upp världen i offer och för­tryckare.« Dominique Samuels

»En mycket läsvärd anatomisk undersökning över det väckelsefenomen som håller på att förgifta vårt intellektuella, sociala och politiska liv, och som har kopplat sitt grepp om många offentliga institutioner. Joanna Williams berättar historien om hur detta har gått till och förklarar varför: för att wokes ideologi ger makt åt den elit som styr en stor del av våra liv.« Robert Tombs

Going Circular explores the concept of a circular economy (CE) and its transformative potential for cities and regions. It emphasises the importance of spatial planning and the role of urban and regional authorities in driving the transition to a more sustainable, resilient and inclusive economic and societal model. The authors offer a critical perspective, arguing that there is no onesize-fits-all approach to regional and urban CE policies. Instead, they advocate for a context-specific understanding of CE, emphasising the importance of: local and regional conditions for circular activities; the spatial patterns in resource stocks and flows within territories, and the need to engage a range of stakeholders and communities in decision-making processes.

Going Circular tackles the pivotal policy issues and challenges related to CE transitions in cities and regions. It will inform and equip public and private policymakers, urban planners and regional authorities with the knowledge and tools needed to foster a CE and nudge cities and regions towards sustainable futures.

Despite extensive data and knowledge available on cities and regions, terms such as ‘circularity’, ‘economy’ and ‘space’ often remain disjointed for researchers, policymakers and practitioners alike. This book presents a frank and insightful exploration of the spatial dimension of the circular economy, challenging assumptions and idealisms. It provides practical opportunities for action by underscoring the importance of geopolitics, empathy and justice, ecosystems restoration, and assessment of progress on the transition pathways towards a circular economy. The book equips readers with language and visual concepts needed to engage with and communicate this topic confidently. I highly recommend it as both an introduction and a refresher on the topic of circular regions and cities.

Adrian Vickery Hill, Strategist and designer - director, Osmos Network

This book outlines a path to trigger circular economy processes that can transform cities and regions, guiding them towards a more resilient and sustainable future, while producing context-appropriate solutions. Circular economy is a context-specific, place-based process that requires a holistic and systemic perspective, in which space plays a crucial role. In six thematic chapters, the book proposes a pathway analysing several key issues: the spatial dimension of circular economy; the opportunities for more ecologically healthy, resource-sufficient metropolitan regions; the integration of social justice and the concept of “care-full” circular economy; the ecological implications of the transition in line with the urban circular bioeconomy; the multidimensional assessment of the transition progress and cross-level interdependencies; as well as policy recommendations for multi-level governance at various scales. This book provides an inspiring perspective on circular economy, not only as a technical and economic challenge, but also as a social and political opportunity. It is highly recommended for anyone interested in fostering a more sustainable and circular future for our cities.

Prof. Maria Cerreta, University of Naples “Federico II”

Going Circular explores the concept of a circular economy (CE) and its transformative potential for cities and regions. It emphasises the importance of spatial planning and the role of urban and regional authorities in driving the transition to a more sustainable, resilient and inclusive economic and societal model. The authors offer a critical perspective, arguing that there is no onesize-fits-all approach to regional and urban CE policies. Instead, they advocate for a context-specific understanding of CE, emphasising the importance of: local and regional conditions for circular activities; the spatial patterns in resource stocks and flows within territories, and the need to engage a range of stakeholders and communities in decision-making processes.

Going Circular tackles the pivotal policy issues and challenges related to CE transitions in cities and regions. It will inform and equip public and private policymakers, urban planners and regional authorities with the knowledge and tools needed to foster a CE and nudge cities and regions towards sustainable futures.

Despite extensive data and knowledge available on cities and regions, terms such as ‘circularity’, ‘economy’ and ‘space’ often remain disjointed for researchers, policymakers and practitioners alike. This book presents a frank and insightful exploration of the spatial dimension of the circular economy, challenging assumptions and idealisms. It provides practical opportunities for action by underscoring the importance of geopolitics, empathy and justice, ecosystems restoration, and assessment of progress on the transition pathways towards a circular economy. The book equips readers with language and visual concepts needed to engage with and communicate this topic confidently. I highly recommend it as both an introduction and a refresher on the topic of circular regions and cities.

Adrian Vickery Hill, Strategist and designer - director, Osmos Network

This book outlines a path to trigger circular economy processes that can transform cities and regions, guiding them towards a more resilient and sustainable future, while producing context-appropriate solutions. Circular economy is a context-specific, place-based process that requires a holistic and systemic perspective, in which space plays a crucial role. In six thematic chapters, the book proposes a pathway analysing several key issues: the spatial dimension of circular economy; the opportunities for more ecologically healthy, resource-sufficient metropolitan regions; the integration of social justice and the concept of “care-full” circular economy; the ecological implications of the transition in line with the urban circular bioeconomy; the multidimensional assessment of the transition progress and cross-level interdependencies; as well as policy recommendations for multi-level governance at various scales. This book provides an inspiring perspective on circular economy, not only as a technical and economic challenge, but also as a social and political opportunity. It is highly recommended for anyone interested in fostering a more sustainable and circular future for our cities.

Prof. Maria Cerreta, University of Naples “Federico II”

Housing is a major contributor to CO2 emissions in Europe and America today and the construction of new homes offers an opportunity to address this issue. Providing homes that achieve "zero carbon", "carbon neutral", "zero-net energy" or "energy-plus" standard is becoming the goal of more innovative house-builders globally, whilst energy providers seek to decarbonise the energy supply to new and existing development.

Various new technical systems for achieving these goals are beginning to emerge. For example the passive house whose energy requirement for space heating and cooling is almost zero; the smart grid that has revolutionized the management of energy, whilst enabling the connection of small-scale, renewable energy producers and electric vehicles to the grid; or the European super-grid which will enable zero carbon energy to be generated in the Sahara desert and stored in Norway.

This book explores the diverse approaches that are being adopted around the world to deliver zero carbon homes and the different societal systems and geographic circumstances in which they have developed. It postulates a roadmap for delivering zero carbon homes, together with a toolbox approach for policy and practice to suit particular national and local circumstances.

A series of case studies are presented that offer lessons for delivering zero carbon homes. These examples are also used to demonstrate how prototype systems can move into the mainstream. The book highlights some of the instruments and mechanisms that could be used to support this transformation and addresses the wider implications of introducing these innovative systems in terms of industry, lifestyle and urban form.

Housing is a major contributor to CO2 emissions in Europe and America today and the construction of new homes offers an opportunity to address this issue. Providing homes that achieve "zero carbon", "carbon neutral", "zero-net energy" or "energy-plus" standard is becoming the goal of more innovative house-builders globally, whilst energy providers seek to decarbonise the energy supply to new and existing development.

Various new technical systems for achieving these goals are beginning to emerge. For example the passive house whose energy requirement for space heating and cooling is almost zero; the smart grid that has revolutionized the management of energy, whilst enabling the connection of small-scale, renewable energy producers and electric vehicles to the grid; or the European super-grid which will enable zero carbon energy to be generated in the Sahara desert and stored in Norway.

This book explores the diverse approaches that are being adopted around the world to deliver zero carbon homes and the different societal systems and geographic circumstances in which they have developed. It postulates a roadmap for delivering zero carbon homes, together with a toolbox approach for policy and practice to suit particular national and local circumstances.

A series of case studies are presented that offer lessons for delivering zero carbon homes. These examples are also used to demonstrate how prototype systems can move into the mainstream. The book highlights some of the instruments and mechanisms that could be used to support this transformation and addresses the wider implications of introducing these innovative systems in terms of industry, lifestyle and urban form.

Wokeness has conquered our institutions. The worlds of politics, academia and even corporate capitalism now bend the knee to the new orthodoxies around gender, racism and identity. How Woke Won explores the intellectual roots of wokeness and how this movement, which poses as radical and left-wing, came to be embraced by some of the most privileged people imaginable. In this powerful critique, Joanna Williams argues that anyone interested in building a truly free, egalitarian and democratic society needs to tackle wokeness head-on.

There’s never been a better time to be a woman. Thanks to those feminists who fought for liberation, young women today have freedom and opportunities their grandmothers could barely have imagined. Girls do better at school than boys and are more likely to go to university. As a result, women are taking more of the top jobs and the gender pay gap has all but disappeared. Yet rather than encouraging women to seize the new possibilities open to them, contemporary feminism tells them they are still oppressed.

Women vs Feminism: Why We All Need Liberating from the Gender Wars challenges this stance, unpicking the statistics from the horror stories to explore the reality of women’s lives. It argues that today’s feminism is obsessed with trivial issues – skinny models, badly phrased jokes and misplaced compliments – and focuses on the regulation of male behaviour, rather than female empowerment, pitching men and women against each other in a never-ending gender war that benefits no-one.

Feminism today does women no favours and it’s time we were all liberated from the gender wars.