Political Change through Social Innovation

Frank Moulaert, Emeritus Professor of Spatial Planning, KU Leuven, Belgium, Bob Jessop, Emeritus Professor of Sociology, Lancaster University, Erik Swyngedouw, Professor of Geography, School of Environment, Education and Development, University of Manchester, UK, Liana Simmons, Political Scientist, Food Activist, Italy and Pieter Van den Broeck, Professor of Spatial Planning and Sustainable Development, P&D Research Unit, Department of Architecture, KU Leuven, Belgium

• Contents: Foreword 1. Can Mutual Aid in a Post-industrial Society Reforge the Political? Frank Moulaert, Bob Jessop, Erik Swyngedouw and Liana Simmons 2. Bottom-linked Governance and Socio-political Transformation Frank Moulaert 3. Is Emancipatory Politicization Still Possible Today? Erik Swyngedouw 4. Exploring the Dilemma between Self-emancipation and Self-responsibilization Bob Jessop 5. Debate: A Dialogical Encounter on thePotentialities of Social Innovation for Social-Political Transformation 6. Towards Socially Innovative Political Transformation Frank Moulaert, Pieter Van den Broeck, Liana Simmons, Bob Jessop and Erik Swyngedouw Index

‘This thought-provoking volume sits at the nexus of social innovation and democratic political theory and practice. Leading international scholars compare and confront different approaches to nurturing emancipatory social change in a world increasingly encountering populist politics and ruptures to “democratic” systems. It provides a valuable landmark for anyone interested in solidarity-based social relations and the potential for social political change.’