Overview

The gap between personal and formal politics has been widening globally and locally. As personal politics have become more inclusive and egalitarian inspired by new social movements, neoliberal ideologies have undermined democracy, increasing isolation, inequality, poverty, disease and environmental threat. Yet this paradox may also offer a path to transformation. Using international evidence and examples, The Antidote explores what we can learn from the equalisation of personal roles and relationships that's been taking place, to help us reconnect with ourselves and each other and make possible more participatory and liberatory policy and politics. It sets out the barriers we face and offers a route map to bring an end to the destructive effects of unfettered neoliberal ideology, economics, policy and politics.

Full Product Details

Author:   Peter Beresford (Visiting Professor, University of East Anglia and Co-Chair, Shaping Our Lives,)
Publisher:   Bristol University Press
Imprint:   Policy Press
ISBN:  

9781447376477

ISBN 10:   1447376471
Pages:   256
Publication Date:   28 May 2025
Audience:   College/higher education ,  Postgraduate, Research & Scholarly
Format:   Hardback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   Manufactured on demand  
We will order this item for you from a manufactured on demand supplier.

Table of Contents

Part 1: Neoliberalism’s destructive agenda 1. Policing and a very neoliberal murder 2. Ideological damage - From the personal to the global 3. Fake news politics 4. The politics of disconnection 5. Divide and rule 6. Alienated even from ourselves 7. Betraying intimacy Part 2: New routes for a different politics 8. Changing our approach to making change 9. Rethinking identity politics 10. What the new social movements can tell us 11. A new watchword: ‘Only Connect’ on equal terms Part 3: Building a politics of connection 12. What’s wrong with the new communication 13. Towards truly inclusive communication 14. Starting with what we know 15. Education for empowerment and change 16. Working together, building alliances, including everyone 17. Rethinking solidarity – extending connection Conclusions and next steps

Reviews

“Wholly original and timely, and steeped in the current moment, this is a book to savour slowly and to remain in frequent dialogue with.” Peter Barham, psychologist, historian and author “Beresford provides a comprehensive and thought-provoking analysis of the consequences of neoliberalism and offers a guide to how we can challenge its damaging social consequences”. Lee Gregory, University of Nottingham

Author Information

Peter Beresford OBE is Visiting Professor at the University of East Anglia, Co-Chair of Shaping Our Lives, the national disabled people's organisation and has long term lived experience of welfare benefits and mental health services. He is also Emeritus Professor at Brunel University London the University of Essex and Honorary Professor at Edge Hill University. He is a long-standing advocate of participation and empowerment as an activist, educator, researcher and writer. He has published over 30 books, and many chapters and journal articles, writing regularly for The Guardian and other mainstream and online media.

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