American Law in the Age of Hypercapitalism: The Worker, the Family and the State (Critical America): 81 - Softcover

Colker, Ruth

Softcover

ISBN 10: 081471563X ISBN 13: 9780814715635

Publisher: NYU Press, 1998

Synopsis

Since the fall of communism, laissez-faire capitalism has experienced renewed popularity. Flush with victory, the United States has embraced a particularly narrow and single-minded definition of capitalism and aggressively exported it worldwide. The defining trait of this brand of capitalism is an unwavering reverence for the icons of the market. Although promoted as a laissez-faire form of capitalism, it actually reflects the very evils of selfishness and greed by entrepreneurs that concerned Adam Smith.

Capitalism, however, can thrive without an extreme emphasis on efficiency and personal autonomy. Americans often forget that theirs is a rather peculiar form of capitalism, that other Western nations successfully maintain capitalistic systems that are fundamentally more balanced and nuanced in their effect on society. The unnecessarily inhumane aspects of American capitalism become apparent when compared to Canadian and Western European societies, with their more generous policies regarding affirmative action, accommodation for disabled persons, and family and medical leave for pregnant woman and their partners.

In American Law in the Age of Hypercapitalism, Ruth Colker examines how American law purports to reflect—and actively promotes—a laissez-faire capitalism that disproportionately benefits the entrepreneurial class. Colker proposes that the quality of American life depends also on fairness and equality rather than simply the single-minded and formulaic pursuit of efficiency and utility.

About this title

Review:

"Very readable . . .an inspiring testimonial of heroic behavior and of ongoing Jewish commitment to the US and its military."-"Choice",

"[A] useful history of American rabbis serving as chaplains in the country's armed forces.. . . Utilizing archival materials and interviews with past and present chaplains, the author has enriched his work."-"Journal of American History",

"Slomovitz has pointed the way towards what could become a new and fascinating dimension of Jewish military history."-"H-Net reviews",

"Chaplain Slomovitz has opened the door to a previously undocumented, untold chapter of the history of the Jews in America. The Fighting Rabbis should be read with great pride by the Jewish American community, and with admiration by all others."-Vice Admiral Bernard M. Kauderer(Ret.),

"The Fighting Rabbis surges with true and exciting stories of faith and fortitude little known to the American public. How I wish it were required reading for all military chaplains, and for all clergy and military leaders who care about God's ministry among our men and women in the armed services. Rabbi Slomovitz has granted us a record of great significance." -"Rear Admiral Donald K. Muchow",

About the Author:

Ruth Colker is Distinguished University Professor and the Heck-Faust Memorial Chair in Constitutional Law at the Michael E. Moritz College of Law, Ohio State University. She is the author of Hybrid, The Disability Pendulum, and American Law in the Age of Hypercapitalism, all available from NYU Press.

About this edition

• Publisher: NYU Press
• Publication date: 1998
• ISBN 10: 081471563X
• ISBN 13: 9780814715635
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 268