Unsettled Legitimacy: Political Community, Power, and Authority in a Global Era

Edited by Bernstein (political science, U. of Toronto) and Coleman (globalization and public policy, Balsillie School of International Affairs) the essays presented here discuss the issue of legitimacy at all levels of government. As globalization proceeds, state sovereignty is being eroded by international governing bodies, such as the European Union, and by trade arrangements enforced by institutions such as the World Trade Organization. A chapter by Nyers (political science, McMaster U.) outlines how the United Nations is also moving in the direction of regarding military intervention as legitimate in cases where there is a "responsibility to protect" people, even in cases such as the Burmese reluctance to accept aid in the wake of Cyclone Nargis in 2008. At the same time, indigenous cultures are demanding more autonomy than ever before which challenges legitimacy from within a state. The contributors come from a wider range than just political science, including anthropology, economics and literature. Annotation c2010 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Steven Bernstein is associate professor of political science and associate director of the Centre for International Studies, University of Toronto. William D.Coleman is professor and Center for International Governance Innovation Chair in Globalization and Public Policy at the Balsillie School of International Affairs, Waterloo,Ontario.