Michael Edwards

Future Positive:
International cooperation in the 21st century
Published by Earthscan Publications. ISBN: 1844071022

In an increasingly interdependent world, no one has a future unless we learn to work together. We are co-creators of the world we live in, and must take responsibility for doing what we can to make it worthy of ourselves and a fitting legacy for generations still to come. At a time when values of cooperation and community seem ever more at risk, Future Positive provides a refreshing and optimistic assessment of the prospects for a new international order – a direct counter blast to the doom-mongering views of writers and politicians whose voices dominate the debate. For those in search of politics and economics that are more humane and less destructive, this book will be both an inspiration and an essential, practical resource. Covering an enormous amount of ground in clear, lively and non-technical language, the book explains how the international system operates, the pressures it faces, and the changes it must undergo, and offers concrete new ideas to re-frame international relations, foreign aid, and humanitarian intervention. Future Positive tackles the big questions of globalization and the national interest head on, without jargon and with no simplistic judgements. This groundbreaking book is a must-read for anyone concerned with where the world is heading.

Contents
Preface • The Co-operative Imperative • 1945 and All That • How do Countries Grow? • It’s Not Size that Matters • Matters of Life and Death • Sticks, Carrots and Room to Manoeuvre • A New Formula for Foreign Aid • Humanising Capitalism • The Future of Global Governance • Building Constituencies for Change • Institutional Reform and Personal Revolution • How Can I Help?

Reviews

"Future Positive is a remarkably coherent account of complex and diverse issues." LONDON REVIEW OF BOOKS

"A careful and realistic portrait of the role of co-operation in domesticating the competitive ethos of the global economy. This is an important thesis that deserves a hearing." LOS ANGELES TIMES

'In his book, Future Positive, Michael Edwards, who has been concerned with global civil society for over two decades in various guises, writes that we have to tell each other a new story - moral, spiritual, prudential - whose aim is to teach the lesson of mutual reliance. 'True freedom is only attainable through relations with others,' he writes, 'since in an interconnected world I can never be safe until you are secure.'' NEW STATESMAN

'Edwards approaches the problems facing the world with steady determination and with a cool eye... He is remarkably persuasive, wise, incisive and extraordinarily well-informed' GLOBAL IDEAS BOOK

'Well intended, well researched and well written - a genuinely worthy and commendable contribution to understanding of international co-operation' LABOUR, CAPITAL AND SOCIETY

'Future Positive makes a timely contribution which raises important questions for anyone involved in teaching, writing, thinking about, or even 'doing', development.' JOURNAL OF INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

"[Future Positive] examines the successes and failures of aid and development in 'Third World' countries... Edwards has analyzed the problems well, and described how alternative ways of dealing with such situations would lead to far better outcomes in the future' FOURTH WORLD REVIEW

'Using non-technical language it offers concrete new ideas, based on the concept of cooperation, to reform international relations, foreign aid, and humanitarian intervention.' ASLIB BOOK GUIDE

"Michael Edwards has a passion for finding practical ways to make the world a better place. He deserves to be widely read." (Tim Garden, Times Higher Education Supplement)

'Involved, sincere, accessible, sometimes humorous and unorthodox, but above all compassionate. This is a product of experience as well as intellectual wisdom' (Edward Newman, Progress in Development Studies)

"Michael Edwards' refreshingly optimistic and readable book calls for widespread reform of an international system which interferes too much in the detail of other people's lives and not enough when it really matters. His approach is wholehearted and convincing. Edwards combines his breadth of vision with a realistic focus on building constituencies for change" (Natasha Franklin, Foreign Policy Review).

"In addition to making the links between the normative and the analytical, theory and practice, international relations and world development, self interest and social conscience, this book offers concrete proposals for change in a globalising world and contributes to the much-needed repoliticisation of the discipline of development studies" (Helen Yanacopulos, Millennium).

"Future Positive is a work that is wise and discerning, rounded and mature, critical but non judgemental. It is also well-written, with practical down-to-earth guidance on how to get from A to B. This is an author whose message deserves to be heard" (Oxfam).

"What a joy! Each chapter is interesting, observant and sometimes violent in its opinions. I urge you to read this book because you will need to take a position yourself, whether you are donor or recipient, from the rich or poor world" (Michael Brophy, Alliance Magazine).

"This comprehensive and profound work presents a new perspective on how to deal with the emerging problems and challenges for the global community. Michael Edwards' optimistic vision for the future gives inspiration as well as alternative means of resolving humanitarian crises, inequality, poverty and violence" (Connections Magazine).

"This book belongs to a small minority of analyses of world politics that are inspired yet modest, deep yet readable. Edwards’ rich combination of personal resources generates powerful insights and compelling prescriptions. However, Edwards does not preach down; he shares his ideas in ways that leave the reader feeling enabled and enthusiastic" (Jan Art Scholte, International Journal of Urban and Regional Research).

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