Rational Extremism: The Political Economy of Radicalism - Brossura

Wintrobe, Ronald

Brossura

ISBN 10: 1107407222 ISBN 13: 9781107407220

Casa editrice: Cambridge University Press, 2012

Riassunto

Extremists are people whose ideas or tactics are viewed as outside the mainstream. Looked at this way, extremists are not necessarily twisted or evil. But they can be, especially when they are intolerant and violent. What makes extremists turn violent? This 2006 book assumes that extremists are rational: given their ends, they choose the best means to achieve them. The analysis explains why extremist leaders use the tactics they do, and why they are often insensitive to punishment and to loss of life. It also explains how rational people can be motivated to die for the cause. The book covers different aspects of extremism such as revolution, suicide terrorism, and global jihad. The arguments are illustrated with important episodes of extremism, including the French Revolution, the rise of nationalism in Yugoslavia under Milosevic, and the emergence of suicide terror and Al Qaeda today.

Su questo libro

Recensione:

Review of the hardback: 'The work that Ronald Wintrobe offers us is dense, original, and at times, provocative. He forces us to question his arguments instead of reading them passively. ... Rational Extremism gives us ideas and allows us to connect it with the most advanced studies in the field of the contemporary social sciences. It is the hallmark of great books.' Sociétal

Descrizione del libro:

The starting point of this 2006 book is that the best way to understand extremists is to assume they are rational. The treatment explains why extremist leaders often advocate violence, and how they motivate their followers to die for the cause. The arguments are illustrated with important episodes of extremism.

Su questa edizione

• Editore: Cambridge University Press
• Data di pubblicazione: 2012
• ISBN 10: 1107407222
• ISBN 13: 9781107407220
• Rilegatura: Copertina flessibile
• Numero di pagine: 298