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Book reviews for "Coates,_Ken" sorted by average review score:

The Marshall Decision and Native Rights (McGill-Queen's Native and Northern Series, 25)
Published in Paperback by McGill-Queens University Press (2001)
Authors: Kenneth Coates and Ken S. Coates
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A scholarly, informative, and much appreciated contribution
The Marshall Decision And Native Rights addresses the legal history and political implications of a variety of Native American issues within Canada. Treaty issues for hunting, fishing, logging rights, maritime activities, self-governance, and Canadian Supreme Court rulings are presented with a series of essay chapters blending aboriginal history and anthropology with politics, law, and constitutional policy decisions. The Marshall Decision And Native Rights is a scholarly, informative, and much appreciated contribution to Canadian-based Native American studies, reading lists, and reference collections.


Success Secrets to Maximize Business in Canada (Culture Shock! Success Secrets to Maximize Business)
Published in Paperback by Graphic Arts Center Publishing Co. (2001)
Author: Ken Coates
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Very Well Written and Informative
I love this book. It's very informative and well written. Everyone who is interested in moving to Canada or starting a business there needs to read this book. You'll find helpful, important information that you need to know about Canada and more than that, I enjoy reading it, not boring at all.


The Sinking of the Princess Sophia: Taking the North Down With Her
Published in Paperback by Univ of Alaska Pr (1991)
Authors: Kenneth Coates, Bill Morrison, and Ken Coates
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An excellent coverage of a forgotten tragedy
As an amature local history buff, I'd heard of the Sophia tragedy, but this book beautifully illustrated who and what was lost that awful day, and her loss meant to the community. The author brings to life the people aboard her, the efforts to save them, and all the ironic poignancy that always accompanies a disaster? How could the captain have know that first day was the only chance he had of escape, that the weather would never improve? Definitely a good read.

Very good book about a little known diaster
When I read "The sinking of the Princess Sophia" I had no idea that it was that desperate, and that unfortunate of what had happen. This book is a very good book that coincides with the Titanic, it is a book that shows the passengers that went on the Sophia for her voyage, to the last trip, and the sinking. If you want to read a book that is about a little known diaster, but still has the qualities of a big sinking.Read it! It is thought provoking and very well written.

EXTREMELY WELL WRITTEN
One of the best shipwreck books to come along in a great while. This book is both readable and well researched (increasingly rare, in this field) with none of the flaws common to current maritime disaster books.....no recreated dialogue, no unsupported claims, no conspiracy theories, no "just plain making things up." If you are interested in this sort of thing, and have been disgusted as of late by the avalanche of really bad books (most of which relate to the Titanic) then this history of a little known tragedy might be just the thing for you.


Third Way ... Where to: An Exchange Between Tony Blair, Ken Coates & Michael Barratt Brown
Published in Paperback by Spokesman Pr (2001)
Authors: Ken Coates and Michael Barratt Brown
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Blair answered effectively
The first part of this booklet is a re-publication of an article written by UK Prime Minister Tony Blair for Prospect magazine (March 2001). It is a curious article which appeals for an end to attacks on his "third way" on the basis of a bogus left unity: "for the left itself to join in is a curious form of self-mutilation. Constructive criticism is healthy: lazy negativism is not" (p.3). This implies that the "left" is a monolithic whole and that this whole identifies with the Blair project. Of course neither is true. The hurt tone of Blair's comments does indicate, however, that he has been stung by criticisms of his project...

His counterblast uses NuSpeak about NuLabour. He describes those who work for charities and the voluntary sector as "social entrepreneurs". Is this the way they see themselves? Isn't the analogy between society and the market just too stretched here? Blair also makes attempts to equate his "third way" with the term "progressive politics". The implication is that there is no other way forward. The misuse of language by Blair certainly jarred with me. I was pleased to see that others felt likewise. The two critics of Blair writing in part two of the pamphlet point out a number of his strange language habits including stating contradictions "as if they were combinations" (p19) Can anyone using language in this way ultimately avoid deluding themselves?

Tony Blair highlights six areas where we need "to grapple new issues" (p.6). These are harnessing new technologies; transforming education; inequality and social mobility; overhauling government and public service provision; renewing democracy and international engagement. I found the most amusing in the list "renewing democracy and overcoming the alienation and disconnection from politics that is a marked feature of our lives" (p.7). The last General Election saw one of the poorest turn-outs ever. Most of those questioned as to why they didn't vote stated they did not believe it would change anything. The constitutional changes brought in by NuLab have not heightened interest in politics significantly or raised the level of debate. More and more people are interested in issues which appear to remain unaddressed by any of the establishment parties. Many regard the rituals of a representative democracy - like the placing of a cross on a ballot paper every few years - as outdated and of little effect. The more intelligent view the establishment parties as simply the enabling mechanisms of big economic interests.

Blair nowhere suggests that a real transfer of power is needed to revitalise our democracy. Power relations are seldom discussed by Blair at all. Blair says that "Democracy needs to respond to people's demand that they have a right to be listened to even if decisions do not always go the way they want".(p.7) It seems that people are asking for the right to be listened to before they are ignored. A curious demand.

We in the real Third Way have argued for years that measures that transfer power are needed to build an active and responsible citizenry. We favour Swiss-style direct democracy, reform of the voting system and measures to ensure fair allocation of media time amongst others. Blair does not even consider these options.

In Part Two of the booklet, Ken Coates and Michael Barratt Brown reply to Blair. They are uncompromising in their criticism. They say Blair's "third way" has simply "afforded a media friendly cover for the extension of neo-liberal politics of de-regulation, the untrammelling of market forces, privitisation and the roll-back of welfare."(p.10) Elsewhere they say "the Third Way is the takeover of Labour by Capital"(p.14)

These critics are far from lazy. They ask pertinent and sensible questions. Quoting one of Blair's mantras on dynamic markets combining with strong communities they ask "how is that to be done when the jobs are gone on which the communities depended?"(p.16). They rightly point out that in the list of Blair's social innovations, the University for Industry, NHS Direct etc "Any transfer of power involved in these initiatives moves away from popular involvement."(p.18) The ethos of NuLab is really top-down, we know better than you.

Ken Coates and Michael Barratt Brown address the real issue -- power. This is something Blair never does. As they say "If fairness means social justice we need not what Blair keeps offering us which is 'a sense of social justice', but the reality. That means the actual redistribution of power and income, not only by a fundamental revision of our system of taxation and public spending, but by a genuine shift in the balance of wealth and power." (p.19).

The critics neatly summarise where we are heading: "Effective markets mean the domination of the largest accumulations of capital and globalisation means that these will be primarily American".(p.19)

 


Aboriginal Land Claims in Canada Regional Perspective
Published in Paperback by Addison Wesley Pub (1992)
Author: Ken Coates
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Adult education and social research: a case-paper
Published in Unknown Binding by University of Nottingham (Department of Adult Education) ()
Author: Ken Coates
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Alliances Divided (End Papers, No 11)
Published in Paperback by Spokesman Pr (1986)
Author: Ken Coates
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Appointment in Cordoba: Defending Peace & Human Rights (The Spokesman, 77)
Published in Paperback by Spokesman Pr (2003)
Author: Ken Coates
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Best Left As Indians: Native-White Relations in the Yukon Territory, 1840-1973 (McGill Queens Studies in Ethnic History)
Published in Paperback by McGill-Queens University Press (1993)
Author: Ken S. Coates
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A Better World Is Possible (The Spokesman)
Published in Paperback by Spokesman Books (01 April, 2002)
Author: Ken Coates
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