What a way to run a railroad : an analysis of radical failure / by Charles Landry ... [et al.]

How can the high failure rate of radical projects (in the media and elsewhere) be understood? This book analyses the reasons why many of the key organisations and projects in this sector, which grew up during the 1970's 'boom' in cultural politics, have either collapsed or moved into a state of permanent crisis.

In attempting to come to terms with this 'history of failure' the key concepts of this movement -collectivity, internal democracy, participation- are critically re-examined, and an argument is presented as to how and why radical projects also need to redefine their priorities and take on board questions of efficiency, financial control and marketing if they are to survive. (Font: Editor)

Introduction -- I. History and ideology -- I II. A case-study in failure -- I III. Living in the market -- I IV. The collective decides -- I V. Looking at management with a jaundiced eye -- I VI. Where do we go from here? -- I VII. The political economy of the future? -- I Notes