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The Eleventh Hour: The Life and Times of a Silent Citizen

by B. A. Fields

178 pages; quality trade paperback (softcover); catalogue #06-2893; ISBN 1-4251-1134-3; US$25.01, C$28.76, EUR19.50, £12.93

A pioneering account of the need for active citizenship and the threat to democracy if the situation does not improve. While focussing on Ireland, the account will appeal to anyone with an interest in active citizenship.

About the Book

This book uses a pioneering approach to the study of active citizenship in an era of unprecedented prosperity. This is an area of interest that is becoming very topical. The book explores some of the effects that prosperity is having on the ordinary citizen and in particular the state's relationship to the citizen.

The case for change is argued through a fictional autobiography of a typical citizen, Joe Meek and in particular through the twenty-one thoughts that he has over the course of his fiftieth birthday.

Joe lives in one of the most affluent yet polarised democracies in the world - Ireland. The book traces his working class origins and his willingness to be silent and passive. On his fiftieth birthday Joe begins to question the effects of this silence on his life and on fellow citizens. He rejects tooth and claw capitalism in favour of high levels of social and economic well-being. To achieve the right balance of social and economic well-being, a fundamental shift needs to occur in the mindset and priorities of each citizen and of governments.

The needs of the community must be on par with and not subservient to the needs of the individual. This will happen if citizens become more involved, more demanding of and give more thought to the kind of system and priorities that will make Ireland a better place for all to live in. In this way a fairer society will emerge.

About the Author

B. A. Fields is a sociologist with a special interest in the changing nature of Irish society. His other publication is the The Catholic Ethic and Global Capitalism.