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Political Science History & Theory

Manufacturing Phobias

The Political Production of Fear in Theory and Practice

edited by Hisham Ramadan & Jeff Shantz

Publisher
University of Toronto Press
Initial publish date
Apr 2016
Category
History & Theory, General, Criminology, General
  • Paperback / softback

    ISBN
    9781442628847
    Publish Date
    Apr 2016
    List Price
    $43.95
  • Hardback

    ISBN
    9781442637276
    Publish Date
    Apr 2016
    List Price
    $70.00
  • eBook

    ISBN
    9781442625037
    Publish Date
    May 2016
    List Price
    $33.95

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Description

Fear is a powerful emotion and a formidable spur to action, a source of worry and – when it is manipulated – a source of injustice. Manufacturing Phobias demonstrates how economic and political elites mobilize fears of terrorism, crime, migration, invasion, and infection to twist political and social policy and advance their own agendas.

The contributors to the collection, experts in criminology, law, sociology, and politics, explain how and why social phobias are created by pundits, politicians, and the media, and how they target the most vulnerable in our society. Emphasizing how social phobias reflect the interests of those with political, economic, and cultural power, this work challenges the idea that society’s anxieties are merely expressions of individual psychology. Manufacturing Phobias will be a clarion call for anyone concerned about the disturbing consequences of our culture of fear.

About the authors

Hisham Ramadan is a professor in the Department of Criminology at Kwantlen Polytechnic University.

Hisham Ramadan's profile page

Jeff Shantz is a professor in the Department of Criminology at Kwantlen Polytechnic University.

Jeff Shantz's profile page