Reflections on the Refusal to Acknowledge Private Governments

In: Wood, J. and Dupont, B. Eds. Democracy, Society and the Governance of Security. Cambridge University Press, 11-32.

22 Pages Posted: 11 Jul 2016

See all articles by Clifford Shearing

Clifford Shearing

University of Cape Town; University of Montreal, School of Criminology; University of New South Wales; University of Toronto

Date Written: July 6, 2006

Abstract

In this chapter I will argue that the state-centred view of governance that excludes, or at least obscures, private governments and continues to dom- inate our thinking has been, and continues to be, a particularly tenacious paradigm. For all its staying power, however, and indeed because of it, it is a paradigm that needs to be eclipsed. This is so not simply because this state-centred view of the world is preventing us from developing an understanding of the world that captures what has been taking place, but because it is limiting normative thinking. It is restricting our ability to comprehend and respond to the divisions that are being created in the world by limiting our awareness of the sources of these divisions and the options and opportunities available to challenge and, hopefully, reverse them.

Suggested Citation

Shearing, Clifford D, Reflections on the Refusal to Acknowledge Private Governments (July 6, 2006). In: Wood, J. and Dupont, B. Eds. Democracy, Society and the Governance of Security. Cambridge University Press, 11-32., Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2805367 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2805367

Clifford D Shearing (Contact Author)

University of Cape Town ( email )

Private Bag X3
Rondebosch, Western Cape 7701
South Africa

HOME PAGE: http://www.publiclaw.uct.ac.za/pbl/staff/cshearing

University of Montreal, School of Criminology ( email )

C.P. 6128 succursale Centre-ville
Montreal, Quebec H3C 3J7
Canada

University of New South Wales ( email )

Sydney
Australia

University of Toronto ( email )

Robarts Library
130 St. George Street, Room 8001
Toronto, ON M5S 1A5
Canada
416-978-3720 Ext. 234 (Phone)
416-978-4195 (Fax)

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Downloads
114
Abstract Views
759
Rank
436,129
PlumX Metrics