State Theories (Third edition)

Classical, Global and Feminist Perspectives

Murray Knuttila, Wendee Kubik

The Third Edition of State Theories: Classical, Global and Feminist Perspectives formally introduces a new co-author, Wendee Kubik. Since the first edition of State Theories was published thirteen years ago the capitalist system has undergone major transformations. These changes in the “real world” have been accompanied by major new theoretical developments in how scholars attempt to understand the structure, role, and operation of the state in capitalist societies. The revised text includes three new chapters that update both the historical context and recent theoretical developments in the field of state theories. One new chapter examines the rise and fall of the welfare state in the Fordist and post-Fordist eras as the context for understanding recent developments in pluralist and neo-Marxian theory, the recent debates surrounding the relevance and role of the nation state, and the post-modernist critique of so-called totalizing theories. A second new chapter considers the work of major feminist scholars as it addresses issues relating to relationships of women to class, power, and the gendered nature of the liberal democratic state. A new conclusion points to critical weaknesses in existing approaches, and suggests potential new theoretical and research directions.

About the Authors

 Murray Knuttila teaches in the Department of Sociology and Social Studies at the University of Regina where he is also Dean of Arts. His biography, That Man Partridge: E.A. Partridge, His Thoughts and Times tells the story of an important figure in Canadian history. He is also the author of Introducing Sociology; A Critical Perspective and numerous articles on the state in capitalist society and on the historical role of the state in structuring Western Canadian society.

 Wendee Kubik is involved in researching gender issues and the changing roles of farm women in Saskatchewan. Her dissertation, a quantitative and qualitative study, looked at the consequences for farm women’s health, well-being and quality of life in Saskatchewan, a follow-up to her M.A. thesis on farm stress in Saskatchewan. She is currently interested in issues relating to feminism in rural areas, changing gender roles, women and work, women’s health in Saskatchewan, nationally, and globally, qualitative and feminist methods, and prairie women. She is currently teaching Introduction to Women’s Studies, Women and Health, and Women’s Health in the Global economy.

Excerpt

Download PDF