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"Cultural transformation tends to be described in one of two ways: either with reference to what comes about, is created or emerges in the process of change or with reference to what is destroyed or obscured in that process. Within a performative paradigm, that is, from a perspective which focuses on the manner in which social and cultural reality is constituted or brought about by human activity, theorists have, in recent years, tended to underline the productive aspects of transformation by emphasising the creative thrust of performative processes and events. In so doing, this perspective has tended to overlook the extent to which a certain destructive element may in fact be inherent to such performative processes. Drawing upon a range of historical and contemporary constellations of socio-cultural change and a variety of different types of events and activities, the articles in this volume describe different forms of destruction and their respective role in processes of transformation."--Page 4 of cover

Intro -- Destruction in the Performative -- Foreword & Acknowledgements -- Table of Contents -- Introduction: Destruction in the Performative -- I. Language, Music, Noise -- Recognition and Disrespect: Lordship and Bondage in Hegel's Phenomenology of Spirit -- Hegemonic Listening and Subversive Silences: Ethical-political Imperatives -- Two Saints and the Power of the Auditive -- Acoustic Violence in Contemporary German Theatre -- II. Embodiment, Identity, Ecstasy -- Asceticism Poses a Threat: The Enactment of Voluntary Hunger -- Salomania - Trans and Trans-temporal: A Queer Archaeology of Destructiveness -- Masochistic Self-shattering between Destructiveness and Productivity -- III. Things, Spaces, Networks -- Triggering Latency Zones in Modern Society: Richard Serra's Sculptures within the Urban Setting -- Creative Destructions: Gabriel Tarde's Concept of a Passionate Economy -- Code Decay: Organizational Performance and Destructivity -- List of Contributors.

If the global focus of the new millennium could be characterized by four words, those words would be ""weapons of mass destruction."" The millennium was barely a few months old when a cruelly innovative deployment of weapons of mass destruction forever altered our course. Four jet fuel-laden hijacked passenger airliners became bombs that resulted in the deaths of nearly 3,000 people on September 11, 2001. Within a period of minutes, the U.S. government shifted priorities and made the elimination of the threat of weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) its primary focus. From a war that has cost hun

Cover -- Title Page -- Copyright -- Contents -- Introduction: Erasing History -- The Heart Of The Ancient World -- An Ideology Of Destruction -- Destruction In Iraq -- Destruction In Syria -- The Destruction Of Cities -- Preserving History -- Chapter Notes -- Glossary -- Further Reading -- Index -- Back Cover.

The threat of weapons of mass destruction is still viable, and unless proper motions are made to prohibit this, global safety is still at risk. Prior arms control agreements have moved humanity within striking distance of global prohibition, yet these weapons of mass destruction remain. This enlightening work discusses original principles for a treaty banning nuclear and chem-bio weapons worldwide. Mattis argues that a proposed new nuclear treaty, replacing today's inadequate 1968 Non-Proliferation Treaty, would demand unanimous accession by States which must be achieved before such a treaty enters into force. By asking essential questions, and offering value-creative proposals for nuclear treaty provisions, this work offers a clear path to the daylight of worldwide weapons of mass destruction prohibition. Not only is global safety threatened by the use of nuclear and chem-bio weapons, but more inclusively, today, society is at risk of nuclear weapons being stolen or acquired by terrorists for purposes of destruction. This risk lends to a necessary treaty that would require down-blending of highly enriched uranium to low-enriched uranium to eliminate this prospect. The heart of this work is its delineation of necessary elements for a nuclear ban treaty that addresses inevitable concerns of all States, especially today's nine nuclear weapon States. Mattis addresses 17 major proposed treaty provisions that include: how to suitably ascertain "unanimous accession" by states to a nuclear ban treaty (unanimity being a condition for entry into force); requirement that states be signatories to the current chemical and biological weapons bans [CWC/BWC] prior to signing a nuclear ban treaty; "non-withdrawal" by states from the treaty once it is in effect; necessary and new verification elements for banning nuclear weapons; the establishment, via nuclear

This unique and timely book is a chronicle of the unrivalled political life of the late Seamus Brennan who, during a period of over 21 years (1987-2008), served as a Government minister in nine different departments. It tells the human and personal inside story of a life in Government under charles Haughey, Albert Reynolds and Bertie Ahern - the challenges, the opportunities, the difficulties, the personalities and the political battles. Author Frank Lahiffe worked closely with Seamus Brennan as a Government adviser throughout the 21 years, having been appointed as his adviser by successive Governments in a record which is unique regarding time served as well as the number of departments. The book draws on the many conversations Frank and Seamus had, and includes personal records, media commentary and published accounts, along with personal recollections from a number of close friends and colleagues who shared the political life of seamus Brennan while he was serving the people of Ireland, his constituency of Dublin South and his political party, Fianna Fail. With numerous photographs, some of which have never before been published, including ones from Seamus's childhood and early life, this is an affectionate portrait of a man hailed by friend and foe alike as a "master politician". As Shane Coleman of the Sunday Tribune said of Seamus Brennan, "Ireland was lucky to have such a man - talented, hard-working and honourable - this country deserves more politicians like Seamus Brennan". Part of the Global Issues series, Weapons of Mass Destruction is designed to be a first-stop resource for research on a key challenge facing the world today. Each volume in the series contains three sections, beginning with an introduction that clearly defines the issue, followed by detailed case studies of the issue's affect in the United States and several other