Researching Violence, Democracy and the Rights of People

"The book provides a useful comparative approach to the issue of violence and the democratic rights of people. In addressing the question - Is there a real need for a book? This could be answered at a number of levels. There is definitely a scholarly need for a book on this issue and I think more relevantly there is a democratic need for such a book. Clearly the problems of violence and democratic rights cover all of the major continents of the world but this particular book would sell most vigorously in the UK and Europe with some side orders to the US. If Routledge has an active agency in Europe there could be some decent mainland sales. What I like about the book is its comparative approach and its considerable conceptual grasp. These are fairly practised editors and I suspect they would do a fairly good job in synthesising the disparate elements which are endemic to any edited book. The authors are recognised authorities in this field and have written before on issues of youth, violence and issues of civic democracy. They also have a very good grasp of research methodology which will be helpful in weaving synoptically together the disparate themes.

In summary I like the book very much. I think that it has considerable scholarly and civic potential and should be published."

Prof Ivor Goodson, University of Brighton

"Is there a real need for this book and what are the principal markets? Please indicate the level at which the book would appeal and identify the main buyers

Given the contemporary orientation to a rights perspective and preoccupations with violence there is a prima facie case for saying, 'yes'. Given that the 'rights' agenda is mostly focused on global and development scenarios, however, this limits the potential market for the book. It remains, I'd have thought, pretty firmly rooted in the traditional area of doctoral students in sociology and related disciplines and their supervisors. John Schostak's previous books will, no doubt, provide the most accurate guide as to potential sales. Three US authors (especially Giroux and, I guess, Wacquant) and a chapter dealing with 9/11 will help US sales - but my impression is that this is not mainstream even for US academics. Translation into French would seem to be a good bet.

2. If the book is intended for the student market, how would you expect it to be used (e.g. indicate whether main text, recommended reading, library only). Please list courses:
   

As I've said - doctoral students - lamentably, I just don't see undergraduates reading theoretical and philosophical texts associated with methodology. I do think the proposed structure of the book makes it a good bet for the doctoral market - though it is unusual.

2. What would you consider to be a reasonable price for the book?

Not a fair question - I find most academic books expensive (I don't say over-priced)! However, the book, IF it is well-written and presented could carry sufficient gravitas to lift it above the hoi-polloi of methodological recipe books - in which case....£20 soft cover?

4. What are the principal competitive books available and what particular advantages have the proposed new book?

I'm not sure. The editors say there are none. I suspect they mean none within the sociological discourse they are elaborating here. Below I refer to other discourses which sound related - but possibly are not.

2. How quickly is this book likely to become out of date?

It won't quickly become so. It taps into mainstream sociological theory and addresses some enduring issues.

2. Is the author a recognised authority in this field?

3. John Schostak is, yes, a good authority on social theory, methodology, rights, etc. One would have a great deal of confidence in him to produce a work of merit in relation to sociological method.

4. Do you recommend that we should publish this book?
   
   Yes, certainly. "

Professor Saville Kushner, Centre for Education and Democracy, University of the West of England

"

1. Need and Principal Market

There is no doubt that ‘violence’ is an increasingly important inter-disciplinary topic. Globalization and 24/7 media coverage has increased the visibility of violence. The societal capacity for violence has arguably never been greater and the need to understand violence perhaps never more urgent. The extent to which this will translate in to demand for academic texts is, of course, difficult to judge. The editors are thinking in terms of an edited collection that appeals to both undergraduate and postgraduate students and I think this is about right. However, their slant on the topic towards methodological issues may well suggest that it is a text for 3rd year undergraduate and postgraduate students. I see no reason why, if properly marketed, it should not sell in North America and Australia; although in my experience USA academics can be remarkably parochial. Perhaps the important thing to note about the book is that it could, if written with this in mind, appeal to a wide range of disciplines and fields of social action: Sociology, Social Work, Criminology, Politics, Cultural Theory, Development Studies and Education, for example.

2. The Student Market

As I have noted I think this is probably a text for third year undergraduate students, MA students and research degree students. I would be surprised if it was widely used as a set course text, rather I would expect to find it on recommended reading and certainly in the library.

3. Price

I would have thought around £20.

4. Competitors and Competitive Advantage

I am not aware of a book that covers the same ground as the proposed edited collection. Typical texts on violence are usually about the sites and forms of violence, violent events, violent regimes, cultures of violence and individual violent pathologies. This book claims to explore ‘methodologies as a form of violence’ and this alone makes it unusual. It is also clearly looking at violence in the context of what one might call ‘emancipatory projects’ of one kind or another and this too sets it apart from many texts on the topic.

The work of Jenny Pearce at the Institute of Development Studies (Sussex) on Violence Power and Participation might well touch on similar themes. Her work explores enhancing participation in civil society in the context of chronic violence. There is a book published by Routledge edited by Barbara Fawcett and Fran Waugh (2007) Addressing Violence, Abuse and Oppression, which provides an overview of violence in relation to a range of groups and areas that involve people working in human service contexts. It is concerned with issues of gender, poverty, class, race and sexuality. But I don’t see these as competitors for the Schostak and Schostak collection, although it would help if they were aware of them.

5. How quickly is this book likely to become out of date?

Good question and I’m not entirely sure I could judge without reading the book in some detail. My guess is that given its themes and the focus on methodology it will not become dated rapidly. I would give it a longish shelf life.

6. The Authors

John Schostak is a well recognised, respected and talented writer. His books on methodology are amongst the best published in the last ten years.

7. Coverage

The collection is varied and stimulating. The chapters look as if they will make interesting cases and the task for the editors is to tell a coherent story that threads them together and gives them some thematic unity. It is culturally diverse, which is a good thing. I think the coverage is fine and if the chapters turn out to be as interesting as they sound the book could make an excellent teaching resource for imaginative teachers.

8. Do you recommend that we should publish the book?

Yes I do. I think it will be a good edited collection. "

Professor Nigel Norris

Centre for Applied Research in Education University of East Anglia Norwich