This book asks some hard questions about our changing world, and examines the policy opportunities that need to be grasped if we are to foster sustainable social foundations for the 21st century.

This book is a large-scale study of global creative activism. It explores how activists facilitate the cultivation of societal alternatives. Harrebye shows that social activism has got a creative new edge that is blurring the boundaries between artist and activist, and pop, prank, and protest.

Contemporary society has seen an unprecedented rise in both the demand and the desire to be creative, to bring something new into the world. Once the reserve of artistic subcultures, creativity has now become a universal model for culture and an imperative in many parts of society. In this new book, cultural sociologist Andreas Reckwitz investigates how the ideal of creativity has grown into a major social force, from the art of the avant-garde and postmodernism to the ‘creative industries’ and the innovation economy, the psychology of creativity and self-growth, the media representation of creative stars, and the urban design of ‘creative cities’. Where creativity is often assumed to be a force for good, Reckwitz looks critically at how this imperative has developed from the 1970s to the present day. Though we may well perceive creativity as the realization of some natural and innate potential within us, it has rather to be understood within the structures of a very specific culture of the new in late modern society. The Invention of Creativity is a bold and refreshing counter to conventional wisdom that shows how our age is defined by radical and restrictive processes of social aestheticization. It will be of great interest to those working in a variety of disciplines, from cultural and social theory to art history and aesthetics.

Creativity is one of mankind’s principal resources. Can this resource be harnessed to accelerate India’s transition from traditionalism to modernity and widespread poverty to decent living standards for all? Can India’s creative efflorescence be directed towards designing a society that facilitates well-being, boosts cultural evolution and raises the bar for exhilaration through creative achievement? Is it possible to socially engineer a society that throbs with questions, novel perspectives and relevant innovations? Can it lead to a society where millions question the status quo and join hands to work out innovative solutions – in short, a creative society? This book is an affirmative response to these questions. Creative Society is an intellectually stimulating analysis of factors that trigger the emergence of a truly creative and innovative society; it explores the nature of human creativity – how it can be augmented and the social contexts that shape it; discusses ways of making institutions such as the government, educational bodies and other civil society organizations more creativity-friendly; offers an assessment of India’s prospective emergence as a highly vibrant, dynamic and creative society; and finally, offers several practical suggestions for India’s creative efflorescence.

Why human creativity is the key to overcoming mankind's social and economic challenges.

Today, telecommunication systems are expanding and evolving at a remarkable rate, with the aid of fiber optics, satellites and comput erized switchboard systems. Airline systems are providing faster and more efficient networks for world-wide human transportation. Com puters are now generally accessible to virtually all industries and many households. But perhaps the most important factor is that education systems are expanding the knowledge base for city populations, thus resulting in increased efficiency in the use of computers, telecommuni cations and rapid transportation systems. The revolutionary age of logistical networks is upon lIS. Logistical networks are those systems which facilitate the movement of knowl edge, commodities, money, and people in association with thE; produc tion or consumption of goods and services. Logistical networks form a set of important infrastructure which serve as hard and soft means to sustain all kinds of movement, transactions and diffusion within and between global networks of cities. Major structural changes in the re gional and urban economy, culture and institutions are triggered by slow but steady changes in global logistical systems.

Through this assessment of creative (climate) communications, readers will understand what works where, when, why and under what conditions.

Philanthropy and endowed foundation are vitally important institutions of modern society, yet in recent years, they've faced new threats such as declining resources and questions of accountability and performance. To address these questions, individual philanthropists and foundation leaders have looked to strategic philanthropy to become more effective and efficient. This important book provides an overview of creative philanthropy along with an analysis of its theory and practice. The authors spell out the implications of their study for management and policy and provide readers with vital tools and techniques. Drawing on case study examples and incorporating sections on key questions and dilemmas, this revealing book covers: the philanthropic deficit finding a distinctive role to do more with less characteristics of the creative foundation beyond strategic philanthropy the strength of creative philanthropy developing creative foundations and philanthropic practices. Essential reading for all those who study or work in foundations, philanthropy and non-profit organizations, this volume clearly navigates a path through this significant yet highly complex subject area.

This book integrates the basic theories (GST and Parson’s AGIL framework), applying them to the components of social systems, state-run and business firms. China’s development experience offers a valuable case study that can provide readers deeper insights into this comparatively young discipline, and into China. Though the discipline of systems engineering and its application to hardware engineering system are well established, social systems engineering is an emerging discipline still being explored. This book may be the first English-language publication on this promising subject.

This book explores some of the opportunities and risks - economic, social and technological - that decision-makers will have to address, and outlines what needs to be done to foster society's capacity to manage its future more flexibly and with broader participation of its citizens.