Download or read book Society in Action written by Piotr Sztompka and published by University of Chicago Press. This book was released on 1991-08-27 with total page 236 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In Society in Action, Piotr Sztompka sets forth a highly topical contribution to central theoretical debates of contemporary sociology. Taking the idea and practice of collective mobilization as his theme, Sztompka argues that modern institutions, particularly of late, are characterized by an increasing awareness of collective empowerment. The most obvious concrete expression of this phenomenon, as Sztompka makes clear, is the rise of a diversity of active social movements such as those which dramatically transformed Europe in the 1980s, from the birth of Solidarity in 1980 to the 1989 "Autumn of Nations." Sztompka connects the interpretations of such collective activity to a wider grasp of the nature of social action. The result is a comprehensive and original theory of social change which focuses on the self-transforming influence on society of its members' striving for freedom, autonomy, and self-fulfillment. He develops his theory by means of a general concept of "social becoming," the roots of which he traces to the early romantic and humanist work of Karl Marx and his followers and to two influential sociological schools of today, the theory of agency and historical sociology. Sztompka situates his theory midway between the rigid determinism of social totalities and the unbridled voluntarism of free individuals. Social change, he demonstrates, can be understood neither as the outcome of individual actions taken alone nor as structurally determined actions. Instead, he confers upon social organizations and movements a "self-transcending" quality: they express human agency yet, by virtue of their active character, are quite often able to achieve unpredictable outcomes. Throughout his analysis of social movements and revolutions in history, Sztompka emphasizes the dynamics of spontaneous social change generated from below—a theoretical testimony to the rapid and fundamental social change in Eastern Europe in recent history. Against the fashions of postmodernist malaise, boredom, and disenchantment, his theory of social becoming expresses the possibility of emancipation, of change leading to positive gains. His work registers a belief in progress, not inevitably gained, but its attainment fully dependent upon the creativity and optimism of an active citizenry.
Download or read book Classical Sociological Theory written by Bert N. Adams and published by Pine Forge Press. This book was released on 2002-01-29 with total page 390 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A concise, yet surprisingly comprehensive theory text, given the range of ideas, historical context, and theorists discussed. Unlike other books of the type, Classical Sociological Theory focuses on how the pivotal theories contributed not only to the development of the field, but also to the evolution of ideas concerning social life.
Download or read book The Sociological Imagination written by and published by . This book was released on 2022 with total page 234 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Decentralized Economic Social Organization written by Reed Camacho Kinney and published by Xlibris Corporation. This book was released on 2012-04 with total page 514 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Representational government is not authentic democracy. The American Constitution cannot defend us from socioeconomic domination by centralized power. Independence means that people organize among themselves in order to meet all of their existential needs, which include more than preserving corporal survival. It means actualizing a better civil and civic organization, and adding to that a civic-economic organization (explained in my other writings) in order to afford every child the support needed to grow as individuated people. The genius my father contributed is the means of making consensus-based decision making processes a structured organization in conjunction with mutual banking, and its production-based economy, which as an organization must expand, or perish. That inbuilt expansive component is what distinguishes DESO from all other attempts to create a better lifestyle. By forcing decentralization to expand, as a structural component, consequent of consensus-based organization and its mutual banking, and its production-based economy, it will compete with mass centrist society for members, because living in real, sovereign community provides a better quality of life; a better culture. I am encouraged that there are people really interested in making this project move into its actualization, and that eventuality is nearing. My blog: http://decentralizationblog.wordpress.com
Download or read book Classical Sociology written by Bryan S Turner and published by SAGE. This book was released on 1999-10-13 with total page 304 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In this book, one of the foremost sociologists of the present day, turns his gaze upon the key figures and seminal institutions in the rise of sociology. Turner examines the work of Karl Marx, Max Weber, Karl Mannheim, Georg Simmel, Emile Durkheim and Talcott Parsons to produce a rich and authoritative perspective on the classical tradition. He argues that classical sociology has developed on many fronts, including debates on the family, religion, the city, social stratification, generations and citizenship. The book defends classical perspectives as a living tradition for understanding contemporary social life and demonstrates how the classical tradition produces an agenda for contemporary sociology.
Download or read book Prophets of Deceit written by Leo Lowenthal and published by Verso Books. This book was released on 2021-04-06 with total page 225 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: How authoritarian and racist discourse functions A classic book that analyzes and defines media appeals specific to American pro-fascist and anti-Semite agitators of the 1940s, such as the application of psychosocial manipulation for political ends. The book details psychological deceits that idealogues or authoritarians commonly used. The techniques are grouped under the headings "Discontent", "The Opponent", "The Movement" and "The Leader". The authors demonstrate repetitive patterns commonly utilized, such as turning unfocused social discontent towards a targeted enemy. The agitator positions himself as a unifying presence: he is the ideal, the only leader capable of freeing his audience from the perceived enemy. Yet, as the authors demonstrate, he is a shallow person who creates social or racial disharmony, thereby reinforcing that his leadership is needed. The authors believed fascist tendencies in America were at an early stage in the 1940s, but warned a time might come when Americans could and would be "susceptible to ... [the] psychological manipulation" of a rabble rouser. A book once again relevant in the Trump era, as made clear by Alberto Toscano's new introduction.
Download or read book Globalization Social Justice and the Helping Professions written by William Roth and published by State University of New York Press. This book was released on 2011-04-28 with total page 283 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This landmark book brings together the reality of globalization and the imperative for social justice for helping professionals and students. Helping professions such as social work, counseling, and community building in non-profit agencies, NGOs, and government and the people and needs they serve can no longer be understood outside a global framework. While the very notion of helping professions is entails a social justice perspective, the relationship between the effects of globalization and the requirements of social justice have been missing from the literature, education, and practice of these fields. This book provides an understanding of the economic and social dimensions of globalization, how globalization increases the interdependence of nations, the particular risks and opportunities it presents, and how some aspects of globalization can exacerbate oppression and marginalization. There are particular explorations of the challenges globalization presents in Africa and South America and a consideration of the special needs of children and families in the global context. This is a necessary volume. Its distinguished contributors have various perspectives on globalization, but all write to inform and assist the work of those whose vocation is to help others.
Download or read book The Evolution of Human Sociality written by Stephen K. Sanderson and published by Rowman & Littlefield. This book was released on 2001 with total page 430 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This text attempts a broad theoretical synthesis within the field of sociology and its closely allied sister discipline of anthropology. It draws together these disciplines' theoretical approaches into a synthesized theory called Darwinian conflict theory.
Download or read book False Prophets written by Leo Lowenthal and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2017-07-05 with total page 328 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The studies in this volume deal with problems of authoritarianism and anti-Semitism. Lowenthal's book length contribution, "Prophets of Deceit," which begins this collection, is a classic of political psychology. This research study is followed by an essay, "Terror's Atomization of Man. "Lowenthal uses this material for a theory of the psychological mechanisms operative under terrorist conditions and their significance for contemporary society.
Download or read book Social Structure and Political Theory written by and published by . This book was released on 1974 with total page 300 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book The Human Meaning of Social Change written by Angus and Converse, Philip E. Campbell and published by Russell Sage Foundation. This book was released on 1972-03-30 with total page 568 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book is a companion piece to Sheldon and Moore's Indicators of Social Change. Whereas Indicators of Social Change was concerned with various kinds of "hard" data, typically sociostructural, this book is devoted chiefly to so-called "softer" data of a more social-psychological sort: the attitudes, expectations, aspirations, and values of the American population. The book deals with the meaning of change from two points of view. First, it is interested in the human meaning which people attribute to the complex social environment in which they find themselves; their understanding of group relations, the political process, and the consumer economy in which they participate. Secondly, it discusses the impact that the various alternatives offered by the environment have on the nature of their lives and the fulfillment of those lives. The twelve essays which make up the volume deal successively with the major domains of life. Each author sets forth an inclusive statement of the most significant dimensions of psychological change in a specific area of life, to review the state of present information, and to project the measurements needed to improve understanding of these changes in the future.
Download or read book The Anthem Companion to Talcott Parsons written by A. Javier Treviño and published by Anthem Press. This book was released on 2016-06-19 with total page 234 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: ‘The Anthem Companion to Talcott Parsons’ offers the best contemporary work on Talcott Parsons, written by the best scholars currently working in this field. Original, authoritative and wide-ranging, the critical assessments of this volume will make it ideal for Parsons students and scholars alike. ‘Anthem Companions to Sociology’ offer authoritative and comprehensive assessments of major figures in the development of sociology from the last two centuries. Covering the major advancements in sociological thought, these companions offer critical evaluations of key figures in the American and European sociological tradition, and will provide students and scholars with both an in-depth assessment of the makers of sociology and chart their relevance to modern society.
Download or read book Sociology and the Environment written by Alan Irwin and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2013-04-25 with total page 226 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Can sociology help us to tackle environmental problems? What can sociology tell us about the nature of the environment and about the origins and consequences of environmental risks, hazards and change? In this important new book Alan Irwin maps out this emerging field of knowledge, teaching and research. He reviews the key sociological debates in the field and sets out a new framework for analysis and practice. Among the themes examined are constructivism and realism, sustainable development and theories of the risk society. Readers are also introduced to communities at risk, institutional regulation and the environmental consequences of technology. Particular topics for discussion include genetically modified organisms, nuclear power, pesticide safety and the local hazards of the chemical industry. Rather than maintaining a fixed boundary between nature and society, Irwin highlights the hybrid character of environmental issues and emphasizes the role of social and cultural factors within environmental policy. Combining theoretical discussion and case-studies with a sensitivity to the concerns of environmental policy and practice, Sociology and the Environment provides an excellent introduction to an expanding and immensely important field. It will be a valuable text for students and scholars in sociology, geography, environmental studies and related disciplines.
Download or read book The Sanhuri Code and the Emergence of Modern Arab Civil Law 1932 to 1949 written by Guy Bechor and published by BRILL. This book was released on 2007-09-30 with total page 357 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Dr. ‘Abd al-Razzāq al-Sanhūrī (1895-1971) is one of the most prominent jurists to emerge to date in the Arab world. His alarm at the growing social gap in his country, Egypt, during the first half of the twentieth century, fueled his vision of establishing moral social order by means of a new civil code. Although Sanhūrī’s chosen tool was the legal text, this book argues that his vision was essentially a social one: to introduce the principles of compassion, solidarity and fairness, alongside progress and pragmatism, into polarized Egyptian society, whereby property laws acquired a social function, the laws of partnership were perceived as having an educational value, and contract law was activated as a balance favoring the weaker members of society. Accordingly, this book examines the drafting of the Egyptian Civil Code, exposing the hitherto unknown sociological strata of this act of legislation.
Download or read book The Politics of Mass Society written by William Kornhauser and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2017-09-08 with total page 175 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Politics of Mass Society explores the social conditions necessary for democracy and the vulnerabilities of large scale society to totalitarian systems. Mass movements mobilize people who are alienated from the social system, who do not believe in the legitimacy of the established order, and who are therefore ready to engage in efforts to destroy. Contrary to the psychological approach prevalent in European doctrines of mass movements, Kornhauser persuasively argues that social order is the critical factor. The greatest number of people available to mass movements are located in those segments of society that have the fewest ties to social order. The book draws on a wide range of materials--from classical political theory contemporary sociological analysis, historical and intuitional studies, public opinion surveys, and other published and unpublished data. Kornhauser selected political phenomena in organizations, communities, classes, and whole societies. He examined support for communism and fascism in a variety of countries in relation to rates of urbanization and industrialization, employment, and suicide and homicide among other phenomena. In his new introduction, Irving Louis Horowitz identifies Kornhauser's book as a seminal work of the great tradition in political sociology in the mid-twentieth century. Kornhauser points out that modern democratic systems possess a distinct vulnerability to mass movements. He spells out and identifies factors that tend to increase or decrease this vulnerability--not least the health and strength of elites. In this way, the book reveals new clues to the origins and nature of mass political movements. The Politics of Mass Society remains the most complete analytical account of the sociological approach to mass society in advanced industrial societies.
Download or read book The Lived Body written by Gillian A. Bendelow and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2002-09-11 with total page 272 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Lived Body takes a fresh look at the notion of human embodiment and provides an ideal textbook for undergraduates on the growing number of courses on the sociology of the body. The authors propose a new approach - an 'Embodied Sociology' - one which makes embodiment central rather than peripheral. They critically examine the dualist legacies of the past, assessing the ideas of a range of key thinkers, from Marx to Freud, Foucault to Giddens, Deleuze to Guattari and Irigary to Grosz, in terms of the bodily themes and issues they address. They also explore new areas of research, including the 'fate' of embodiment in late modernity, sex, gender, medical technology and the body, the sociology of emotions, pain, sleep and artistic representations of the body. The Lived Body will provide students and researchers in medical sociology, health sciences, cultural studies and philosophy with clear, accessible coverage of the major theories and debates in the sociology of the body and a challenging new way of thinking.
Download or read book Malaise in Representation in Latin American Countries written by Alfredo Joignant and published by Palgrave Macmillan. This book was released on 2016-12-24 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This edited volume examines malaise with democracy within three middle-income Latin American countries - Chile, Argentina and Uruguay. In particular, the book focuses on the gap within public opinion on democratic system within the context of crisis of representation and breakdowns of democracy. Based on a study using comparative and systematic survey data, the contributors of this volume provide a solid analysis on the state of democracy in three Latin American countries, whose lessons are useful for all types of democracy, in the north and the south.
