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Overview
Decision-making in American government and other institutions in the 21st century is likely to become more authoritarian and will drift away from the democratic ideals of the Enlightenment. That¿s the main conclusion John C. Merrill, a professor emeritus of journalism, reaches in Call to Order, which is sure to be one of his most provocative books. ¿The postmodern inclination toward relativism and subjectivism, when faced with the real dangers of human survival, will begin to fade away and ... acute dangers require strong leaders, and disorder ¿ exemplified in the 20th century politics ¿ will demand ever-stricter government controls and social order. Hobbes, with his clarion call from Plato, will raise his voice again against the champions of people¿s sovereignty. Human responsibilities will increasingly replace human rights as power-systems step in to bring order to nations and to larger governmental blocs. In the name of the poor and downtrodden, the exploited environment, the impulse to egalitarianism, and the need for a common health care and education, the state controllers will join forces to centralize power in their hands. As citizens become more individually impotent ... social order will be assured.¿ In Call to Order, Merrill summarizes Plato¿s ideas about social control, which emphasize a benevolent but authoritarian system, and then briefly traces its legacy, covering all major thinkers up to the present. Merrill is particularly concerned about the rise of neo-Marist theories, postmodernism, and the communitarianism and public journalism movements. ¿They have not directly condemned freedom, but in very subtle ways have proposed limiting the power of the media managers and putting it in the hands of the citizens or in government agencies. The assumption here is that some extra-press authority would be more responsible managers than are the current directors, publishers, and editors.¿ Merrill isn¿t completely pessimistic. He says newspapers like The New York Times, France¿s Le Monde, and England¿s The Independent will continue to improve and provide credible information. However, the long-term prospects for libertarian ideas of freedom and individuality are not promising. Call to Order is highly readable and sure to spark considerable debate among scholars from numerous disciplines as well as from students in upper-level undergraduate and graduate courses in media theory, First Amendment and media ethics.
| ISBN-13 | 9780922993819 |
|---|---|
| ISBN-10 | 0922993815 |
| Weight | 0.75 Pounds |
| Dimensions | 8.25 x 8.30 x 0.50 In |
| List Price | $39.95 |
| Format | Paperback |
|---|---|
| Pages | 160 pages |
| Publisher | |
| Published On | 2009-02-01 |
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Solr Books
Lincolnwood, IL, USA
This books is in Very good condition. There may be a few flaws like shelf wear and some light wear.
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Columbia Books
Columbia, MO, USA
Marquette Books, 2009. 153pp. 8vo. Uncreased spine, as new unread trade paperback.
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Affordable Collectibles
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Signed and inscribed by the author. Otherwise about like new.
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