The Birth of Solidarity

"“Ingenious and trenchant, François Ewald's The Birth of Solidarity offers an arresting insight into the politicization of probability. Abounding in legal and historical detail, the book deftly demonstrates how industrial power integrated French society by assuming the risk of accidents. Ewald's critical theory of the rules of judicial decision-making is a tour de force. His critique of law brilliantly unveils the birth of the twentieth-century insurantial society that is now itself at risk.” -- Bernard E. Harcourt, author of * The Illusion of Free Markets: Punishment and the Myth of Natural Order * “François Ewald's seminal book is not only a major contribution to the history of the welfare state but a significant work of social and political theory in its own right, notably in the way Ewald applies a Foucauldian perspective to understanding the significance of concepts such as responsibility, insurance, and solidarity to modern forms of government. The Birth of Solidarity is a landmark in French political thought.” -- Michael C. Behrent, coeditor of * Foucault and Neoliberalism * ""This very important text covers some familiar ground but is set in a rich context of political theory that sheds light on current challenges to the welfare state. Highly recommended. Advanced undergraduates through faculty.""   -- J. D. Moon * Choice * “Ewald’s interweaving of complex social forces is captivating, as he systematically delineates the many individuals, groups, ideologies, political parties, and historical events that contributed to what became the French welfare state. Social scientists will be particularly intrigued by his exploration of the power of demographics as they clashed with the social structures that could no longer respond to them effectively."" -- Gail Murphy-Geiss * Modern & Contemporary France *"