70 | MIND VOYAGE
EDUCATOR’S LIBRARY Against Empire: Feminisms, Racism, and the West Zillah Eisenstein | Zed Books, 2004 | International Eisenstein has been teaching and writing feminist theory in North America for 25 years. Long before Western media turned its collective attention toward issues like race, gender, and class relations; extremist fundamentalism; environmental piracy; neoliberalism; democracy; and militarism, she was meeting these tough realities head-on in Afghanistan, Ghana, Bosnia, Egypt, Cuba, and the U.S. For this critic of artificial delineations, Western feminism seems prescriptive, and universal is too small a concept, too singular. Driven by the belief that the key to a more just and peaceful world lies in the ideas and activism of today’s women, she envisions a “polyversal” feminist democracy—a pluralized notion of feminism that incorporates nonWestern interpretations and emphasizes real practices that promote equality and justice. Incredibly wide in scope, this book is an important read for students of contemporary politics and feminism and for activists hoping to better understand the intricate connection between empire and gender. www.zedbooks.co.uk
Developing Power: How Women Transformed International Development Arvonne S. Fraser and Irene Tinker, eds. | Feminist Press, 2004 | International This is a specialized yet personal collection of essays from 27 pioneering women who have devoted their lives to transforming feminist theory into feminist policy. Leaders from all over the world offer their personal stories of struggle, triumph, and defeat, reflecting on the daunting process of organizing on a global level. Activists and teachers offer essays that fall into these broad categories: “At the United Nations”; “New Ideas, New Organizations”; “In and Out of Government”; “Influencing Development Policy”; and “Education and Development.” Every author included has an extensive track record in development and credentials too numerous to mention. This collaboration is an invaluable look at how far we’ve come and how we might replicate and move beyond those successes—a gem for anyone interested in comparative models of development and progressive policy. www.feministpress.org
A Will of Their Own: Cross-Cultural Perspectives on Working Children Manfred Liebel | Zed Books, 2004 | International The issue of child labor is closely intertwined with the process of globalization. Yet research on children’s work is very often influenced by political interests, and the cacophony of voices eager to speak “for the good of the children” makes it difficult to discern the true repercussions of child labor practices. Liebel, a sociology professor at the Technical University of Berlin, spends much of his time researching and consulting on working children and youth movements in Latin America and Africa. His book offers a refreshing and controversial look at working children, privileging their own understanding of the value and meaning of their work. Without avoiding the negative impact of child labor, he honors the various forms that children’s work can take and considers both the harmful and beneficial effects. Liebel is concerned that Western scholarship still treats it as a “backward” social feature. He maintains that cross-cultural and cross-continental dialogue is the only route to finding viable solutions that truly benefit children. www.zedbooks.co.uk
Gender, Peacebuilding, and Reconstruction Caroline Sweetman, ed. | Oxfam, 2004 | International A volume of 10 articles linked by the common goal of clarifying the impact of armed conflict on women, men, and gender relations. The basic tenet of Sweetman’s argument is this: Conflict is a gendered experience, and if we are to achieve sustainable peace, decision-making must be based in the desire to address the needs of everyone involved. Women must, she claims, be included in conflict resolution and the healing process that follows. She presents case studies from specialists in India, Kosovo, Nicaragua, Sierra Leone, and Uganda as well as an extensive list of resources, making this a helpful source for peace workers and those in post-conflict reconstruction. www.oxfam.org.uk