The Christian Socialist Movement in Scotland C. 1850–1930

Abstract

This essay reads Politics and Passion as a philosophical complement to theological projects that see no innate conflict between Christianity and liberalism and considers the significance of Waltzer's "more egalitarian liberalism" from the perspective of one who believes there to be compelling theological, ethical and political grounds for "making common cause" with liberalism. Liberal human rights discourse provides the lens through which this case is argued. This essay endorses the revisions proposed in Politics and Passion and suggests that developments in human rights discourse since the early twentieth century allows one to regard this discourse as a still unfinished version of Waltzer's more egalitarian liberalism. I argue that it is precisely because of the pressures identified by Waltzer that a thicker, more contextually varied conceptualization of rights has been generated. Moreover, when human rights language is understood as a discourse of egalitarian rather than emancipatory liberalism, then the claims that it is irredeemably secular, individualistic and voluntaristic, and that its adoption will result in the marginalization of Christian narrative traditions, are no longer tenable.     

Ceramics,clothing and other bodies: affective geographies of homoerotic cruising encounters

This paper provides a new approach to the geographies of cruising and public homosex. For some time, social scientists have contended that, in those semi-public spaces where men meet each other for sex, actions speak louder than words and men's competency in using the space is more important that the (sexual) identities they claim in other aspects of their lives. This paper extends that argument in a new direction through an engagement with recent theorizations of affective geographies and more-than-representational approaches to spatial practices. Through a series of short vignettes of cruising encounters on city streets, in public toilets and in urban green spaces, this paper examines how public homosex is enacted and performed in relation to both human and non-human bodies, objects and the environment in which it takes place. The encounters described in the paper draw attention to the complex choreography of gestures through which cruising is performed and sexual engagement is negotiated ethically. I contend that the site-specific, performative nature of these sexual encounters suggests a more contingent sexuality arising from the interaction of bodies in specific environments and exceeding the boundaries of reified sexual identities.     

New books

The Highest Andes. A Record of the first Ascent of Aconcagua and Tupungato in Argentina and the Exploration of the surrounding Valleys. By E. A. FitzGerald. London : Methuen and Co., 1899. Pp. 390. Price 30s. net.

In Dwarf Land and Cannibal Country. By A. B. Lloyd. London : T. Fisher Unwin, 1899. Price 21s. net.

The Redemption of Egypt. By W. Basil Worsfold, M.A. London : George Allen, 1899. Pp. 333. Price 25s. net.

Alaska and the Klondike. By Angelo Heilprin, F.R.G.S., F.G.S.A. London : C. Arthur Pearson, Limited, 1899. Pp. 315. Price 7s. 6d.

Tunisia and the Modern Barbary Pirates. By Herbert Vivian, M.A., author of Servia, The Poor Man's Paradise, etc. etc. Illustrated with Photographs and a Map. London : C. Arthur Pearson, Limited, 1899. Pp. xvi + 341. Price 15s.

In a Corner of Asia. By Hugh Clifford. ("The Over‐Seas Library.”) London: T. Fisher Unwin, 1899. Pp. 279. Price 1s. 6d.

Admiral Phillip. By Louis Becke and Walter Jeffert. ("The Builders of Greater Britain” Series.) London: T. Fisher Unwin, 1899. Pp. xx + 336. Price 5s.

Von Kap zum Nil. Eeise‐Erinnerungen aus Sü'd‐, Ost‐ und Nordafrika. With Illustrations. By Dr. Karl Dove. 2nd edition. Berlin : Allgemeiner Verein für Deutsche Litteratur, 1898. Pp. 319.

Die Republik San Marino. Eine Studie. Von Carl Amico. Augsburg : A. Himmer, 1899. Pp. 159.

Missionary Travels and Researches in South Africa. By David Livingstone, M.D. With Notes by Frederick Stanley Arnot. London : John Murray, 1899. Pp. xiv + 447. Price 5s.

Cities and Sights of Spain. A Handbook for Tourists. By E. Main. London: George Bell and Sons, 1899. Pp. 214.

Hazell's Annual for 1900: a Cyclopædic Record of Men and Topics of the Day. Edited by W. Palmer, B.A. (Lond.). London : Hazell, Watson, and Viney, 1900. Pp. 702.

Statistical Year‐Booh of Canada for 1898. Issued by the Department of Agriculture. Ottawa: Government Printing Bureau, 1899. Pp. 606.

Aarbog for Dansh Kulturhistorie. Udgiven af Poul Bjerge. København : Lehmann og Stage, 1899. Pp. 192. Price 2 Kr.

Illustrated Guide for Tourists to the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway and Darjeeling. 1896. Pp. 46.

Nedbøriagttagelser i Norge. Udgivet af det Norske Meteorologiske Institut. Aargang 1, ii. og iii., 1895 Juli, 1897 December. Kristiania : W. C. Fabricius og Sønner, 1899.     

The Weddell centenary and the problems of Antarctica

Most of the new industries established in Northern Ireland since 1945 have followed the traditional pattern of concentrating in the Belfast region. This has created serious problems in the remote rural fringes of the Province. To stimulate local initiative in these areas a Local Enterprise Development Unit (LEDU) was set up in 1971 aimed particularly at encouraging small manufacturing firms. Grants, loans, small factories and advice are made available to help small enterprises at all stages of growth and development. The scheme has had some notable successes but the level of local initiative has been disappointing and since 1974 the unstable political situation has reduced the amount of aid distributed and the number of jobs created.     

Antarctic history: A reply to professor W. H. Hobbs

On July 25th 1983 a severe thunderstorm brought torrential rain and flooding to a small valley near Newcastleton in Roxburghshire. At one site within the valley, around 65 mm of rainfall was recorded in 75 minutes, though this was probably 2 km from the centre of the storm. The resulting peak flow was estimated at almost 170 m³s^‐1 from a drainage area of 36.9 km². Lightning killed some livestock whilst many more were drowned. The storm triggered peat slides on several hillsides and caused extensive erosion of river banks and damage to buildings and bridges. The associated high sediment load killed fish stocks in the receiving waters. The flood was a significant event in terms of its human disruption and its impact on the natural environment.