Gavin Kitching
Encyclopedia
Gavin Kitching is a British
author and professor of social sciences and international relations
(formerly head of School Politics and International Relations) at the University of New South Wales
, where he has taught since 1991. In 2007 Kitching became a fellow of the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia
.
, and has made contributions to the philosophy behind Marxism
. In his latest work, Kitching has argued that postmodernism
is a hollow form of philosophy, setting "an athletic Enlightenment cat among the plump postmodernist pigeons." He argues not only that postmodernism is either boring or wrong, but that it can be a distorting influence in education.
Prior to that Kitching made contributions to development studies
, with the early best-selling course text Development and Underdevelopment (1989). His first research and published work focussed on development in Africa, particularly Tanzania
and Kenya
, for which he won the Herskovitz Prize
. Since the early 1990s he moved to analysing post-soviet Russia
during the process of de-collectivisation
of land. Subsequently he wrote about the effects of globalisation on social justice
in the twenty first century economy, and is familiar to UNSW international studies
students for teaching the introductory globalisation course.
Kitching is also a published novelist and playwright. The main characters play out their roles in the North
-East of England
, and the novels are whodunnit crime stories.
Academic articles
Fiction work
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
author and professor of social sciences and international relations
International relations
International relations is the study of relationships between countries, including the roles of states, inter-governmental organizations , international nongovernmental organizations , non-governmental organizations and multinational corporations...
(formerly head of School Politics and International Relations) at the University of New South Wales
University of New South Wales
The University of New South Wales , is a research-focused university based in Kensington, a suburb in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
, where he has taught since 1991. In 2007 Kitching became a fellow of the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia
Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia
The Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia is an autonomous, non-governmental organisation, devoted to the advancement of knowledge and research in the social sciences. It was established in 1971...
.
Academic and fiction work
Gavin Kitching is an expert on the philosophy of Ludwig WittgensteinLudwig Wittgenstein
Ludwig Josef Johann Wittgenstein was an Austrian philosopher who worked primarily in logic, the philosophy of mathematics, the philosophy of mind, and the philosophy of language. He was professor in philosophy at the University of Cambridge from 1939 until 1947...
, and has made contributions to the philosophy behind Marxism
Marxism
Marxism is an economic and sociopolitical worldview and method of socioeconomic inquiry that centers upon a materialist interpretation of history, a dialectical view of social change, and an analysis and critique of the development of capitalism. Marxism was pioneered in the early to mid 19th...
. In his latest work, Kitching has argued that postmodernism
Postmodernism
Postmodernism is a philosophical movement evolved in reaction to modernism, the tendency in contemporary culture to accept only objective truth and to be inherently suspicious towards a global cultural narrative or meta-narrative. Postmodernist thought is an intentional departure from the...
is a hollow form of philosophy, setting "an athletic Enlightenment cat among the plump postmodernist pigeons." He argues not only that postmodernism is either boring or wrong, but that it can be a distorting influence in education.
Prior to that Kitching made contributions to development studies
Development studies
Development studies is a multidisciplinary branch of social science which addresses issues of concern to developing countries. It has historically placed a particular focus on issues related to social and economic development, and its relevance may therefore extend to communities and regions...
, with the early best-selling course text Development and Underdevelopment (1989). His first research and published work focussed on development in Africa, particularly Tanzania
Tanzania
The United Republic of Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.Tanzania is a state...
and Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
, for which he won the Herskovitz Prize
Herskovitz Prize
The Herskovits Prize is an annual award given by the African Studies Association to the best scholarly work on Africa published in English in the previous year and distributed in the United States....
. Since the early 1990s he moved to analysing post-soviet Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
during the process of de-collectivisation
Collectivisation in the USSR
Collectivization in the Soviet Union was a policy pursued under Stalin between 1928 and 1940. The goal of this policy was to consolidate individual land and labour into collective farms...
of land. Subsequently he wrote about the effects of globalisation on social justice
Social justice
Social justice generally refers to the idea of creating a society or institution that is based on the principles of equality and solidarity, that understands and values human rights, and that recognizes the dignity of every human being. The term and modern concept of "social justice" was coined by...
in the twenty first century economy, and is familiar to UNSW international studies
International studies
International Studies generally refers to the specific University Degrees and courses which are concerned with the study of ‘the major political, economic, social, cultural and sacral issues that dominate the international agenda’...
students for teaching the introductory globalisation course.
Kitching is also a published novelist and playwright. The main characters play out their roles in the North
Northern England
Northern England, also known as the North of England, the North or the North Country, is a cultural region of England. It is not an official government region, but rather an informal amalgamation of counties. The southern extent of the region is roughly the River Trent, while the North is bordered...
-East of England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, and the novels are whodunnit crime stories.
List of publications
Academic titles- The trouble with theory: the educational costs of postmodernism (2008) Allen & Unwin, ISBN 978-1-74175-522-0
- Wittgenstein and Society: Essays in Conceptual Puzzlement (2003) Ashgate, ISBN 0-7546-3342-X
- Seeking Social Justice through Globalisation: Escaping a Nationalist Perspective (2001) Penn State Press, ISBN 0271021624
- Marxism and Science: Analysis of an Obsession (1994) Penn State Press, ISBN 0271010266
- Rethinking Socialism (1983) Meuthen, ISBN 0416358403
- Development and Underdevelopment in Historical Perspective (1989) 2nd Ed. Routledge, ISBN 0415034493
- Class and economic change in Kenya (1980) Yale University Press, ISBN 0300023855
Academic articles
- The modernisation myth (2006)
- The Concept of Sebestoimost' in Russian Farm Accounting: A Very Unmagical Mystery Tour (2001) 1 Journal of Agrarian Change 57
- Why I gave up African Studies (2000)
Fiction work
- The Death of a Politician (2007) online
- The Truth of the Matter (2007) online
- Sons and Smugglers (2007) online
- An Impossible Honesty: Scenes from the life of Ludwig Wittgenstein (2003) online, freely downloadable
- Karl Marx in Hell (2002) online, freely downloadable
- A Dream of Gazza (2001) online, freely downloadable