The Empowered Self

Thomas Franck is Professor of Law Director of the Center for International Studies at New York University

• 1. TRIBE, NATION, STATE: TRADITIONAL FORMS OF IMPOSED IDENTITY ; 2. THE DREARY FUTURE OF IMPOSED IDENTITY: A WORLD OF 2,000 STATES ; 3. A DIFFERENT FUTURE: INDIVIDUALISM AS IDENTITY ; 4. CITIZENSHIP: AN INSTANCE OF IDENTITY AS A PERSONAL ACT OF SELF-DETERMINATION ; 5. COMMUNITY BASED ON PERSONAL AUTONOMY ; 6. FREEDOM OF CONSCIENCE: A "WESTERN" VALUE? ; 7. CONSTRUCTING THE SELF: NAME, GENDER, CAREER AND PRIVACY ; 8. THE INDIVIDUAL AS EMERGING RIGHTS-HOLDER ; 9. THE INDIVIDUAL AGAINST THE GROUP ; 10. PERSONAL FREEDOM, PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY AND THEIR DEMOCRATIC RECONCILIATION ; 11. SUMMING UP

Franck's exposition of the evidence supporting his claim that there is an emergent individualist culture is both excellent and informative. erudite and thought-provoking The Empowered Self is a complex book that demands and deserves engaged close reading.