The Missing Child in Liberal Theory: Towards a Covenant Theory of Family,Community Welfare,and the Civic State / Edition 1

by John O'Neill, Laidlaw Foundation

Overview

The Missing Child in Liberal Theory opens public discourse on what it is Canadians hold in common through their provision of civic assurances to children and families at risk. John O'Neill presents a strongly-worded critique of the dominant discourse of the market society. He observes the link between 'duty free' capitalism and minimal civic obligations. This book calls for a covenant society where civility and reciprocity are underwritten by a second generation concept of the Canadian welfare state that will not abandon children to disastrous prospects in a market society.
Confronting the current call for a leaner and meaner response to global competitiveness, O'Neill challenges concepts of liberalism and communitarianism. In their place he proposes a covenant concept of state, community, and family assurances to derive from our common provision of a civic endowment that we undertake to sustain now and for future generations of Canadians.
O'Neill argues that if Canada is to survive as a national community capable of responding to the global market, we must reaffirm the civic foundations of the state. If we fail to do this, we will not have a leaner society, only a meaner one. This society will be hostile to capitalism and socialism alike. If we can rededicate the Canadian commons to the well-being of the civic person, Canada will contribute a model of survival and governance among the nations of the twenty-first century.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780802075864
Publisher:	University of Toronto Press
Publication date:	09/01/1994
Pages:	136
Product dimensions:	5.52(w) x 8.51(h) x 0.47(d)

About the Author

John O'Neill is a distinguished research professor emeritus in the Department of Sociology at York University.

Editorial Reviews

The "missing child" in O'Neill's treatise is the child sacrificed to market-generated values and imperatives. Canada's civic covenant must be renewed, he asserts, if the degradation of civic institutions is to be resisted and if children are to be appropriately cared for. He draws worthy distinctions between progressive and regressive "public familism"--what Americans might call "family values." An altogether interesting psycho-socio-political treatise on the family. Canadian call number: C94-931990-2. Paper edition (unseen), $14.95. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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