Keith J Hayward - Böcker

As we move deeper into the twenty-first century, the forces of globalisation continue to transform both the spaces around international borders, and the social processes, cultural practices, economies, and political dynamics within and between these spaces. The geographies of border regions have undergone a dramatic transformation over the last half century; nation-state boundaries growing ever more porous in many (though not all) areas of the planet. Global trade has become an accepted norm in business transactions almost everywhere. Coupled with the revolution in digital technology, the era of globalisation promises to continue to challenge old ideas, with new approaches to understanding international boundaries and the regions they impact. All of the chapters in this book, mainly drawn from the US-Mexico border (with comparisons to Europe), speak to the ways in which border regions have become important places in their own right, spaces where people live, work, and create art, where corporations invest, where crimes occur, and where security remains a concern. They are, therefore, spaces that need to be better understood and managed, especially in light of the cross-national and global forces impinging upon them. This book was originally published as a special issue of Global Society.

As we move deeper into the twenty-first century, the forces of globalisation continue to transform both the spaces around international borders, and the social processes, cultural practices, economies, and political dynamics within and between these spaces. The geographies of border regions have undergone a dramatic transformation over the last half century; nation-state boundaries growing ever more porous in many (though not all) areas of the planet. Global trade has become an accepted norm in business transactions almost everywhere. Coupled with the revolution in digital technology, the era of globalisation promises to continue to challenge old ideas, with new approaches to understanding international boundaries and the regions they impact. All of the chapters in this book, mainly drawn from the US-Mexico border (with comparisons to Europe), speak to the ways in which border regions have become important places in their own right, spaces where people live, work, and create art, where corporations invest, where crimes occur, and where security remains a concern. They are, therefore, spaces that need to be better understood and managed, especially in light of the cross-national and global forces impinging upon them. This book was originally published as a special issue of Global Society.

Have you noticed that in more and more areas of everyday life, rather than being addressed like a mature adult, you're increasingly treated like an irresponsible child in constant need of instruction and protection? Perhaps you've experienced this feeling when passing by unnecessary health and safety signage telling you how to walk up a flight of stairs or use a handrail, or when instructed by patronising tannoy announcers to carry a bottle of water with you in hot weather? Or maybe you've spotted it on television, in the countless commercials that use babyish jingles and cutesy cartoon animals in campaigns for adult goods and services? Or it could be you've sensed your diminishing adult autonomy when being talked down to by barely educated politicians or even worse told what to think by entirely uneducated celebrities? But whenever and wherever it happens, you're left with a sinking feeling that something's not quite right; that instead of inhabiting a mature, grown-up world of foresight and experience, you've been enrolled, without your consent, into something resembling universalised adult day-care.Noticing society's creeping descent into infantilisation is one thing but understanding the roots and causes of the phenomenon is not quite so easy. In fact, one of the strange things about our infantilised world is that, while it's evident everywhere from education to the evening news, hardly anyone stops to consider how this situation came about and what it will ultimately mean for society. In this topical and vitally important new work, cultural theorist and academic Dr K J Hayward exposes the deep social, psychological, and political dangers of a world characterised by denuded adult autonomy. But importantly Infantilised: How Our Culture Killed Adulthood is no one-dimensional, unsympathetic critique. Brimming with anecdotes and examples that span everything from the normalisation of infantilism on 'reality TV' to the rise of a new class of political 'infantocrat', this comprehensive book also offers an insightful and at times humorous account of infantilism's seductive appeal. Hayward even ends on an upbeat note, with a short manifesto-style conclusion that includes ten suggestions for avoiding some of the pitfalls associated with our increasingly infantilised world.

A SHREWD AND TIMELY EXPLORATION OF A CULTURAL LANDSCAPE PREDICATED ON THE PRIMACY OF YOUTHHave you ever noticed that in areas of everyday life, rather than being addressed like a mature adult, you're increasingly treated like an irresponsible child in constant need of instruction and protection?Noticing society's creeping descent into infantilisation is one thing, however understanding the roots and causes of the phenomenon is not quite so easy. But in this topical and vitally important new work, cultural theorist and academic, Dr Keith Hayward, exposes the deep social, psychological and political dangers of a world characterised by denuded adult autonomy.But importantly Infantilised is no one-dimensional, unsympathetic critique. Brimming with anecdotes and examples that span everything from the normalisation of infantilism on reality TV to the rise of a new class of political 'infantocrat', this comprehensive book also offers an insightful and at times humorous account of infantilism's seductive appeal, and details some suggestions for avoiding some of the pitfalls associated with our increasingly infantilised world.