Benjamin Barber
a well-known scholar and political theorist. He is the author of many books =

Jihad vs. McWorld. 
Superman and Common Men: Freedom, Anarchy and the Revolution (1971)
The Death of Communal Liberty: A History of Freedom in a Swiss Mountain Canton (1974)
Liberating Feminism (1976)
Marriage Voices (1981 novel)
Strong Democracy: Participatory Politics for a New Age (1984)
The Conquest of Politics: Liberal Philosophy in Democratic Times (1988)
An Aristocracy of Everyone: The Politics Of Education and the Future of America (1992)
America Skips School (1993) Harper's Magazine
Jihad vs. McWorld: How Globalism and Tribalism Are Reshaping the World (1996)
A Place for Us: How to Make Society Civil and Democracy Strong (1998)
A Passion for Democracy: American Essays (2000)
The Truth of Power: Intellectual Affairs in the Clinton White House (2001)
Fear's Empire: War, Terrorism, and Democracy in an Age of Interdependence (2003)
Strong Democracy: Participatory Politics for a New Age (20th Anniversary Revision 2004)
Consumed: How Markets Corrupt Children, Infantilize Adults, and Swallow Citizens Whole (2007)

Archived Programs of Benjamin Barber

The Politics of Education [W]

<>1998oc07:CO Boulder | McWorld & the Free Market Threat to Civic Culture #BARB001 | After hustling to be a responsible employee and a smart consumer, is there any time, money, and energy left each week to be a good citizen? The global free market does a great job creating a world-wide demand and desire for products and services, but does it simultaneously undermine the ability of civic society to meet its vital needs? What are the prospects for democracy when the largest economic power in the world exports a laissez-faire economic model that prioritizes marketing goods over meeting growing humanitarian needs? Can the world survive America?

<>2007my02:CAN ONT Ottawa | Jihad vs. McWorld #BARB002 | The Bush administration's tired refrain to explain terrorist acts against the US continues to be that they hate us for our freedoms. Invasion and occupation of rogue nations will lead them out of their darkness and bring them US-style democracy. But will that truly put an end to terrorism or create a cycle that only begets more terrorist acts? The US seems to be following Machiavellian principle in dealing with our global world, in that "It is better to be feared than loved, more prudent to be cruel than compassionate." But as Milton said, "Where no hope is left, is left no fear."

<>2007ap17:WA Seattle| Runaway Capitalism #BARB003 | Infantilzation and marketization of adult citizens | Demonization of government, which means demonization of our selves | Our great leaders tell us what we already know, The economy is "sour." But no worries. At the end of the day all will be well. Just keep on shoppin.' Capitalism is the only game in town. Growth for growth's sake, without any attention paid to its consequences, is producing what one Canadian writer calls "The Cancer Stage of Capitalism." And like a cancer it will keep metastasizing until it kills its host. The economic system is predicated on constant expansion and growth. The gospel of consumerism is an unsustainable paradigm. What is required is a radical rethinking of basic assumptions. Yet virtually no politician is willing to speak the hard truth to citizens. They are tinkerers at best, suggesting cosmetic changes such as buying a hybrid car and recycling paper and glass. Other than that it's business as usual.