Radicals Chasing Utopia

"It's the hubris of every generation to think that they have arrived at the best way of living. But all the things we now take for granted, all the modern wisdoms we hold to be self-evident, were once derided as dangerous or foolish radical thinking." -- From the Prologue In Radicals Chasing Utopia, Jamie Bartlett, one of the world's leading thinkers on radical politics and technology, takes readers inside the strange and exciting worlds of the innovators, disrupters, idealists, and extremists who think we can do better-and believe they know how. Bartlett introduces us to some of the most influential movements today: techno-futurists questing for immortality, far-right groups seeking to close borders, militant environmentalists striving to save the planet by any means necessary, and psychedelic pioneers attempting to heal society with the help of powerful hallucinogens. The success of democratic societies hinges on our ability to listen to-and in some cases learn from-the radical movements in our midst. Their methods may be extreme, but in chasing utopia, these groups are challenging what is possible and previewing the world to come.

What are the origins to concentrated power and socialism? How did socialism lead to today's politically correct speech, preferential relativism, and identity politics? Chasing Utopia tracks the evolution of sinister movements and people such as ancient Sparta, Plato's Republic, Rousseau, Marx, Gramsci and others, to explain how their ideas eventually formed America's progressive movement. From Woodrow Wilson's progressivism to the far-left 2020 progressive Democrats, utopian chasers seek to fundamentally transform the United States of America into a socialist state. Their deleterious goals include a green utopia via a mythical carbon problem. The last remaining hope for goodness and liberty, America, has been the antithesis of utopianism. America was formed by the three C's: Christian values, U.S. Constitutional rights, and Capitalism's free market principles. America is functioning as two diametrically opposed ideologies under one country. Which philosophy will prevail: the progressive horde Chasing Utopia or the last good society based in God-given, eternal rights? James Cogan is a patriot who loves the original essence of America rooted in the brilliance of its founding documents. He describes himself as part classical liberal, part traditional conservative. Cogan is a practicing Catholic who believes in: Faith, Family, and Freedom. Currently earning a Master's of Political Science from Liberty University, Cogan is also a business owner in Cleveland, Ohio.

In the last few years the world has changed in unexpected ways. The power of radical groups and ideas is growing. What was once considered extreme is now the mainstream. But what is life like on the political fringes? What is the real power of radicals? Radicals is an exploration of the individuals, groups and movements who are rejecting the way we live now, and attempting to find alternatives. In it, Jamie Bartlett, one of the world's leading thinkers on radical politics and technology, takes us inside the strange and exciting worlds of the innovators, disruptors, idealists and extremists who think society is broken, and believe they know how to fix it. From dawn raids into open mines to the darkest recesses of the internet, Radicals introduces us to some of the most secretive and influential movements today: techno-futurists questing for immortality, far-right groups seeking to close borders, militant environmentalists striving to save the planet's natural reserves by any means possible, libertarian movements founding new countries, autonomous cooperatives in self-sustaining micro-societies, and psychedelic pioneers attempting to heal society with the help of powerful hallucinogens. As well as providing a fascinating glimpse at the people and ideas driving these groups, Radicals also presents a startling argument: radicals are not only the symptoms of a deep unrest within the world today, but might also provide the most plausible models for our future.

In 2018 the world was thrown into a recession so severe that governments could not work out a solution. Desperation and poverty inspired social networks to create a world that ran on the principles of anarchism. This was ended only by the rise of CorpGroup, an Eastern initiative that created the new Eco-World Order. Through a series of encounters, the boundaries of time are erased to offer a captivating insight into the complications of love and friendship. Jess Rivington and the people in her life offer a contrasting account of the world we know and life after the tipping point. In a population which believes segregation is fundamental to their development, there is no desire to question the underlying principles of the Eco-World Order. Jess alone must challenge the system and rescue the man she loves by ending his days as a white slave in another District. In persuading modern society that there is still a place for humanitarian assistance, she must prepare to lose everything.

This offbeat slice of American history places the story of our great republic beneath an unexpected lens: that of fringe candidates for president of the United States. Mark Stein explores how their quest for our nation's highest office helped to amplify voices otherwise quashed during their day. His careening tour through elections past includes the efforts of true pioneers in the quest for social equality in our country: the first woman to run for president, Victoria Woodhull in 1872; the first African American to run for president, George E. Taylor in 1904; and the first openly gay cross-dressing candidate for president, Joan Jett Blakk in 1992. But The Presidential Fringe also takes a look at those who would jest their way into the Oval Office, from comedians such as Will Rogers and Gracie Allen to Pat Paulsen and Stephen Colbert. Along the way, Stein shows how even seemingly zany candidates, such as "Live Forever" Jones, Vegetarian Party candidate John Maxwell, Flying Saucer Party candidate Gabriel Green, or, most recently, Vermin Supreme, provide extraordinary insights of clarity into who we were when they ran for president and how we became who we are today. Ultimately, Stein's examination reveals that it was often precisely these fringe candidates who planted the seeds from which mainstream candidates later harvested genuine, positive change. Written in Stein's direct and witty style, The Presidential Fringe surveys and portrays an American landscape rife with the unlikely, unassuming, unexpected, and (in a few cases) unbalanced presidential hopefuls who, in their own way, have contributed to this nation's founding quest to form a more perfect Union.

Bestselling author, journalist, and human rights activist Sally Armstrong argues that humankind requires the equal status of women and girls. The facts are indisputable. When women get even a bit of education, the whole of society improves. When they get a bit of healthcare, everyone lives longer. In many ways, it has never been a better time to be a woman: a fundamental shift has been occurring. Yet from Toronto to Timbuktu the promise of equality still eludes half the world’s population. In her 2019 CBC Massey Lectures, award-winning author, journalist, and human rights activist Sally Armstrong illustrates how the status of the female half of humanity is crucial to our collective surviving and thriving. Drawing on anthropology, social science, literature, politics, and economics, she examines the many beginnings of the role of women in society, and the evolutionary revisions over millennia in the realms of sex, religion, custom, culture, politics, and economics. What ultimately comes to light is that gender inequality comes at too high a cost to us all.

Belarus, a middle-sized nation with more than a thousand years of history, is not well known beyond periodic media headlines. Modern scholarly and popular literature covers only fragments from Belarus’s long history and current geopolitical, social, and cultural issues. Belarusian history in this book differs in many aspects from history and myths created by Russian scholars and propagated worldwide. The author argues for the existence of a Western-Ruthenian (Belarusian-Ukrainian) civilization as a sub-civilization of Western civilization and thus different from Eurasian civilization. With original, detailed. and critical views on Belarusian history from the ninth century to the present, it explores the latest information about Belarusian society regarding mentality, identity, religion, current elites, the Revolution of Hope 2020. It then analyzes the future prospects of Belarus based on an assessment of modern trends in human societal and political development. It provides detailed analysis of current activities of Belarusian national and ruling elites and their ideologies vis-à-vis the building of a nation-state.

Addressing the problems surrounding cyber security and cyberspace, this book bridges the gap between the technical and political worlds to increase our understanding of this major security concern in our IT-dependent society, and the risks it presents. Only by establishing a sound technical understanding of what is and is not possible can a properly informed discussion take place, and political visions toward cyberspace accurately map and predict the future of cyber security. Combining research from the technical world that creates cyberspace with that of the political world, which seeks to understand the consequences and uses of cyberspace, Steed analyses and explains the circumstances that have led to current situations whereby IT-dependent societies are vulnerable to, and regularly victims of, hacking, terrorism, espionage, and cyberwar. Two fundamental questions are considered throughout the book: what circumstances led to this state of affairs? And what solutions exist for the future of cyberspace? In tackling these questions, Steed also analyses the emergent and increasingly competing political positions on offer to stabilise the landscape of cyberspace. This interdisciplinary work will appeal to researchers and students of Security Studies, Intelligence Studies, Strategic Studies and International Relations as well as cybersecurity practitioners charged with developing policy options.

This book presents an edited collection of chapters from academic and industry expert contributors focusing on the directions of blockchain cryptocurrency from leading authorities in their field providing the cutting-edge and timely insights in the world of cryptocurrency behaviour. Whether you are a researcher, a portfolio manager, financial adviser, or nvesting novice, this book will provide you with thought provoking perceptions and insights. It will bring you fully up to date on the consumer issues, trends, and challenges in the world of blockchain crypto behaviour equipping you to understand and meet current challenges to come. Advances in Blockchain Research and Cryptocurrency Behaviour provides an interesting and thought-provoking insight into blockchain and cryptocurrency behaviours and is fi lled with new insights into: Consumer adoption and behaviour; digital currency innovations; blockchain technology and governance; sustainability and environmental impact; branding and resilience and investing in blockchain. The culmination of many decades of investing experience and academic research, this book makes complex issues interesting and logical.