Home  |  Journalism  |  Articles  |  Books  |  Conference Presentations & Public Lectures  |  Faith Resources  |  Links
RUMOURS OF A MORAL ECONOMY
by Christopher Lind

THE BOOK IS LAUNCHED!


FERNWOOD PUBLISHING
critical books for critical thinkers
see Fernwood's Rumours of a Moral Economy webpage here »

  • Introduction: “What Kind of World Do We want to Live In?”
  • Chapter 1: Whatever Happened To The Ethics In Economics?
  • Chapter 2: Remembering A Moral Economy
  • Chapter 3: Community As A Basis Of Resistance
  • Chapter 4: Embeddedness & Theories Of Moral Economy
  • Chapter 5: Marginalization & The Shadow Side Of Economic Globalization •
  • Chapter 6: The Common Good: Sustainability, Sufficiency, Solidarity And Equity
  • Conclusion: Envisioning A Moral Economy

Do economies have ethics?

Lind convincingly argues that although economics and ethics are understood to be separate at the level of ideas, in practice, economies are deeply embedded in society, relationships and morality.

This new book will argue that there is a moral economy which exists as a coherent set of moral values embedded in strong communities. These values and commitments reveal themselves in times of crisis as guides for how to act when things are not normal.

The public response to the flooding of the Red River Valley in 1997 would be an example of this behaviour when people were rescued according to their need and not according to their class, status or ethnic background. The moral economy is also revealed by its absence, as when the state responded with indifference to the need of racialized minorities in the Katrina disaster of 2005.

This book builds on the work of E.P.Thompson who recovered the term for modern use. His study of the 18th century English food riots demonstrated that peasant farmers remembered the royal proclamations of the 16th century regarding what was a just price for bread in times of famine. They were also able to interpret these rules for famines caused by market systems rather than drought and were willing to enforce these standards when local magistrates would not.

This book also builds on the work of James C. Scott whose studies of peasant societies under French colonial rule in the 20th century revealed that a moral economy was operating there as well. Scott extended the concept with his analysis of public transcripts of moral life and the hidden transcripts of moral life. These concepts have now been used retrospectively by biblical scholars to re-read accounts of peasant behaviour in ancient times and recover lost records of resistance to oppression.

Rumours of a Moral Economy will demonstrate how this concept has been actively present in the past. It will also show how it continues to erupt in the present and how it can be used in the future to build a society that recognizes and supports community life.

Buy it now online! here »


Something's Wrong Somewhere : Globalization, Community and the Moral Economy of the Farm Crisis

More about this book: here »

Author: Christopher Lind
Format: Paperback
Publish Date: June 1995
ISBN-10: 1895686490
ISBN-13: 9781895686494
List Price: $12.95
Publisher: Fernwood Books Ltd

Available from: amazon.ca ’


Study Guide

Something's Wrong Somewhere:
Globalization, Community and
the Moral Economy of the Farm Crisis

Author: Christopher Lind and Gail Allan
Format: Paperback
Publish Date: 1996
Publisher: Fernwood Books Ltd website »

more on this book here »



Coalitions For Justice: The Story of Canada's Interchurch Coalitions,

Editors: Lind,Christopher and Joe Mihevc(edited by)
Publish date: Ottawa: Novalis, 1994
ISBN-10: 2890886700
ISBN-13: 9782890886704
Publisher: Novalis Publishing; Montreal, Quebec, Canada, 1994.

Recommended reading:
"Ecumenical Social Action" - Canadian Encyclopedia [link »]


A New Beginning
An International Dialogue With The Chinese Church

Authors: Chu,Theresa & Lind, Christopher (Editors)
Publication Date: 1983
Binding: Softcover ISBN-10: 096912600X
ISBN-13: 9780969126003
Publisher: Canada China Program of Canadian Council of Churches, Montreal Canada, 1983.
186 pages

copies available here:
Rumours of a Moral Economy
Halifax: Fernwood Books, September 18, 2010 see book's webpage here »

Wrestling with God: Vol. 3 – Meeting God
The Primate’s Theological Commission, Toronto: Anglican Book Centre, 2004. Co-author

Wrestling with God: Vol. 2 – Turning to God
The Primate’s Theological Commission, Toronto: Anglican Book Centre, 2002. Co-author

Wrestling with God: Vol. 1 – Longing for God
The Primate’s Theological Commission, Toronto: Anglican Book Centre, 2001. Co-author

Study Guide for Something’s Wrong Somewhere - more »
by Gail Allan & Christopher Lind, Halifax: Fernwood Books, 1996

Something’s Wrong Somewhere: Globalization, Community and the Moral Economy of the Farm Crisis
Halifax: Fernwood Books, 1995 - more »

Coalitions For Justice: The story of Canada's Interchurch Coalitions
C. Lind and J. Mihevc (eds.), Ottawa: Novalis, 1994

Justice As Mission: An Agenda for the Church
C. Lind and T. Brown (eds.), Trinity Press, Burlington, 1985

A New Beginning
T. Chu and C. Lind (eds.), Canadian Council of Churches, Toronto, 1983.



Dr. Christopher Lind   •   Contact by Email   •   Moral Economy Blogspot link »