Citizens are caught in a paradox. Voting levels are falling, there are growing feelings of powerlessness, social unfairness and yet citizens are constantly told that they have more choice as well as greater freedom and liberty.

This book brilliantly explains these discrepancies. It shows that the new definitions of freedom as responsibility to create prosperity through markets is seriously distorting citizenship whilst appearing to be unbiased and neutral. It exposes inconsistencies in the market-based and apolitical vision of our collective future. This book:

• outlines how market citizenship involves a new kind of rationality in which citizens are defined as individualized utility maximizers
• shows how the idea that citizens act primarily to develop their narrow self-interest has encouraged the creation of competitive governance mechanisms
• analyses how market mechanisms are used to decide who are 'winners' and 'losers' - from the loss of youth groups funding to global treaties
• discussess the shortfalls when key contemporary issues are tackled through 'win-win' solutions with business working alongside consumers, with little or no role for government
• explaims how localism and the devolution of power is being used to support the status quo.
• suggests new kinds of engagement are emerging because markets have undermined politics.

Essential reading for students, policy-makers and researchers of citizenship within sociology, politics, economics, geography and social policy.