Beyond Civilization

According to Harry Redner, the phrase "Beyond Civilization," refers to the new and unprecedented condition the world is now entering--specifically, the condition commonly known as globalization. Redner approaches globalization from the perspective of the study of civilization, thereby revealing the [...]
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According to Harry Redner, the phrase "Beyond Civilization," refers to the new and unprecedented condition the world is now entering--specifically, the condition commonly known as globalization. Redner approaches globalization from the perspective of the study of civilization, thereby revealing the deeper historical meaning of the globalization process. Redner addresses a key question often overlooked: What is globalization doing to civilization? What are the consequences for civilization of the current spread of interconnectivity, interpenetration, and integration that is sweeping the globe? Redner argues that the result is a global melting pot where societies are becoming unified and uniform. The scope of Redner's investigation extends beyond culture and focuses on the economic, political, cognitive, and technical factors that touch on society. Historically speaking, all these trends began in the Axial Age (700-300 BC) with the cultivation of literacy and culminated in the late stages of Western civilization. In his view, anything that threatens literacy also threatens civilization. This book is of interest to sociologists, historians, and social and political theorists. It is also accessibly written for a larger audience of readers interested in analyzing civilization past, present, and future.