Bloomsbury The Revival of Political Imagination: Utopia as Methodology

The Revival of Political Imagination offers a unique examination of the methodological aspects of utopia. Discussing utopia as a tool for social criticism, method and imaginative spaces - rather than in terms of its content - this volume analyses the function of utopias, to develop utopias as methodology and to show how instrumental utopian modes of thought can be in such diverse fields such as education, labour, and housing.Including discussions of traditional and contemporary utopias, as well as various forms of expression of utopian hope, from literature to social science and cultural practices, The Revival of Political Imagination is both analytical and practical in its elucidation of how political theory can function to foster our imaginative skills. Review 'An important contribution to contemporary scholarship on utopian and dystopian theory and practice.' --Tom Moylan, University of Limerick'A valuable contribution to contemporary scholarly debates in both Utopian Studies and the social sciences more broadly. Its individual case studies provide a wide-ranging an engaging exploration of the contemporary relevance of the "imaginative skill" of utopian dreaming as a means of facilitating social transformation.' --Mark Allison, Ohio Wesleyan University'This vibrant collection covers the bases for a re-energized, "re-radicalized" utopian political imagination. The contributors offer a fresh and wide-ranging use of the utopian method to imagine social alternatives and shore up collective struggles against global dystopian tendencies. A timely example of the kind of social critique from a utopian point of view we desperately need.' --S. D. Chrostowska, York University, Canada About the Author Teppo Eskelinen defended his PhD in philosophy in 2009 and has worked in the fields of philosophy, social policy, and development theory. His main field of research is political economy: the economy as a social construct; economy and social justice; the relationship between economy and democracy; and alternative economic initiatives. Eskelinen has published around 40 scientific articles and several books, both in English and Finnish. He has also worked as a think tank director, translator, copy-editor, and project co-ordinator for several solidarity NGOs. Currently, Eskelinen is the chairperson of the Finnish Society for Political Economy Research, and a member of the research group Utopia as Method.