Ronald M. Glassman – författare

This book focuses on the processes that help stabilize democracy. It provides a socio-historical analysis of the future prospects of democracy.

The link between advanced capitalism and democracy is emphasized, focusing on contract law and the separation of the economy from the state. The book also emphasizes the positive effects of the scientific world view on legal- rational authority. Aristotle’s theory of the majority middle class and its stabilizing effect on democracy is highlighted.

This book describes the face to face democracies of the past in order to give us a better perspective on the high tech democracies of the future, making it appealing to students and academics in the political and social sciences.

This book analyzes the many threats to democracy that exist in the 21st century and tries to understand how democracy can survive economic, social and political crises. It focuses on issues of oligarchy, tyranny, totalitarianism, and ochlocracy. It discusses how these forms of governance manifested themselves in ancient and medieval worlds, and how socio-economic transitions in the 21st century have created conditions that increasingly pose similar threats to modern democracy. The author discusses broad transitions in the contemporary world: economic transition to advanced, high technology capitalism; cultural transition from traditional religious and family values to norms focusing on racial equality, gender and transgender equality and liberation, and multiculturalism; also, transition from the traditional religious worldview to rational-scientific worldview, and from religious morality to secular humanist ethics. These taken together undergird the political transition from traditional authority, involving monarchy and aristocracy, to rational-legal authority, involving constitutional law and democratic participation. The book shows, through extensive country discussions, that whenever these transitions become difficult, undemocratic forms of governance may emerge and override democracy.

Authored by an expert in the field, this book touches upon an especially topical theme in the contemporary world and is of interest to a wide readership across the social sciences, from researchers and students to discerning laypersons.

This book explores Karl Polanyi''s concept of labor, land, and money as "fictional commodities" created by the market. Capitalism transformed these elements, shifting labor from artisanal crafts to factory wage work, land from communal ownership to private property, and money from a medium of exchange to capital for profit.

The book extends Polanyi''s vision to modern transformations, analyzing the impact of automation, Artificial Intelligence, and technological advancements on society. It examines the great changes in gender, sexuality, race, and religion, highlighting the ongoing evolution of social and cultural norms. Additionally, the book analyzes the complex relationship between free market capitalism and democracy, offering insights into the balance of power and the future of democratic governance in a rapidly changing world.

This book critically analyzes the forces shaping contemporary society. It will appeal to students, scholars, and researchers in political science, economics, and the social sciences, interested in a better understanding of the great global transformation.