Books From University Presses

Recommendation: "Death and Afterlife in Modern France" provides a thorough exploration of the evolution of French beliefs about death and mourning. It sheds light on the social and cultural context that influenced these beliefs and how they have been politicized. The book offers insight into the evolution of funerals and burial customs, ultimately demonstrating the importance of these events for defining social identity. This book would appeal to anyone interested in French culture, religion, anthropology or sociology.

If you're fascinated by the interplay of cultural identities and how they influence national narratives, "The Chinese Question" could resonate with you. Caroline S. Hau delves into the evolving concepts of race, class, and ideology within the Philippines, framing it through the lens of the local Chinese community. This book might particularly appeal to those interested in ethnicity and regional dynamics in Southeast Asia, as it offers a profound exploration of what it means to belong and how heritage can shape an entire nation's perspective.

This book offers a unique perspective on labor theory by incorporating the works of Jacques Lacan, Gilles Deleuze, Felix Guattari, and Jacques Derrida. It challenges traditional Marxist ideas, advocates for direct action, and proposes strategies for organizing workers who are often overlooked by mainstream labor movements. Class Action is ideal for readers interested in anti-capitalist struggle, labor organizing, and social justice issues.

For the past century and a half, extensive looting and illicit trafficking of Southeast Asia's cultural heritage have scattered art objects from the region to museums and private collections around the world. Today, however, power relations are shifting, a new awareness is growing, and new questions are emerging about the representation and ownership of Southeast Asian cultural material located in the West. This book offers a timely consideration of object restitution and related issues across Southeast Asia, bringing together a range of viewpoints, including those of museum professionals and scholars in Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, and Indonesia, as well as Europe, North America, and Australia. The contributors address legal, cultural, political and diplomatic issues involved in the restitution process, and they also look at the ways object restitution is integral to evolving narratives of national identity. Ultimately, the book’s editors conclude, restitution processes can transform narratives of loss into opportunities for gain, building knowledge and reconstructing relationships across national borders.