Brian Caterino Knihy

Critical theory has largely overlooked a thorough examination of neoliberalism, focusing instead on international justice issues. This emphasis limits the scope of critical analysis by neglecting the broader political and economic contexts that shape contemporary society. The book argues for a more integrated approach that addresses the complexities of neoliberalism alongside traditional welfare state capitalism, aiming to enrich the discourse within critical theory.

Focusing on the Rochester Monroe Anti-Poverty Initiative (RMAPI), the book explores the persistent issue of poverty in Rochester, which has one of the highest rates in the U.S. Despite its establishment to combat poverty, RMAPI has seen little progress in five years. The analysis highlights how the initiative's organizational framework and the contradictions within neo-liberal welfare reforms contribute to its ineffectiveness. Using Rochester as a case study, the book critiques the limitations of neo-liberal strategies in addressing poverty, appealing to readers interested in urban politics and welfare policy.

Focusing on the decline of public access channels, the book explores how neo-liberal media regimes have reshaped public obligations and media regulation. It argues that rather than being outdated, public access is suffering due to these changes, which undermine civil society and public discourse. While social media is often seen as a space for free communication, the author contends that it has been colonized by neo-liberalism, restricting genuine popular democracy. The work critically examines the implications of these transformations on non-profit media.

This book examines a basic problem in critical approaches to political and social inquiry: in what way is social inquiry animated by a practical intent? This practical intent is not external to inquiry as an add-on or a choice by the inquirer, but is inherent to the process of inquiry. The practical intent in inquiry derives from the connection between social inquiry and the participant’s perspective. The social inquirer, in order to grasp the sense of those who are the subject of inquiry, has to adopt the perspective of the participant in the social world. Caterino opposes the view that research is an autonomous activity distinct from or superior to a participant’s perspective. He argues that since the inquirer is on the same level as the participant, all inquiry should be considered mutual critique in which those who are addressed by inquiry have an equal right and an equal capacity to criticize addressors.