This contribution to the expanding area of globalization in sociological and cultural studies has two organizing themes: social theory and social change. The contributors, who include Zygmunt Bauman, Jonathan Friedman, Anthony King, Ann Game and Goran Therborn concentrate on the spatialization of social theory, and offer a critique of previous positions on the study of modernity which have tended to prioritize history. This study argues for a self-reflexive approach to modernity, stresses the fluid character of interdependence and movement, and provides a commentary on the interplay between the local and the global, showing how global processes structure personal and social consciousness.
In present-day societies, knowledge is not only the key to the world, but the making of the world. In this broad-ranging analysis of the central role that knowledge plays in our life Nico Stehr critically examines the premises of existing social theory and explores the knowledge relations in advanced societies. The result is i significant new synthesis of social theory. The issues addressed in "Knowledge Societies" include: the process of scientization - the penetration of scientific knowledge not only into production but into most spheres of social action; the transformation of the political system by increasingly knowledgeable citizens; the rise of specific areas of expertise and changes in corresponding institutions based on the deployment of specialised knowledge; a shift in the nature of societal conflict from struggles about the allocation of income and property to claims and conflict about generalized human needs; the emergence of fragility as a basic attribute of modem social organizations. The author does not argue that the transformations of contemporary societies around knowledge lead to any unilinear pattern of change, or to universal shifts to the advantage of specific social groups. But his argument amply demonstrates that all social theories now need to take account of the changing nature of social relations around knowledge, and defines the parameters within which this analysis should take place. This book will be essential reading for all those interested in social theory, sociology of knowledge and science, and the whole issue of knowledge in the late twentieth century,
The opening chapters elaborate the theoretical basis and implications of Billig's argument. On the one hand, a rhetorical psychology requires psychologists to address how the wider patterns of society are reflected in the thinking of individuals. On the other, it reveals the significance of a psychological understanding of relations between the individual and society which should, and can, reject an ultimately unsatisfactory view of individuals as "unthinking dupes" of the workings of ideology. The following chapters aim to demonstrate how a rhetorical perspective can be applied empirically. The studies described explore the concept of prejudice, argumentation within the family, common-sense opinions about monarchy, and the operations of ideology in both the very ordinary lives of the young right wing and the extra-ordinary "rationalities" of fascist propaganda. The final chapter returns to some broader themes of rhetoric and ideology. Billig offers a critique of the current modern and post-modern interest in rhetoric and outlines his alternative vision of the "argumentative society". "Ideology and Opinions" may be interesting reading for social psychologists, sociologists and all those interested in investigating both empirically and theoretically the relations between individuals and society.
This textbook provides an overview of the applications of social psychology to a wide range of problems and issues in contemporary society. Part 1 outlines a number of general frameworks that inform the applications of social psychology, namely, language, attitudes, decision-making and survey research. Part 2 focuses on major behavioural domains, including health and economic behaviour. Part 3 explains the relationship between social psychology and social institutions, highlighting, for instance, the media, law and politics.
Challenging the traditional view of memory as the product and property of individual minds, "Collective Remembering" investigates remembering and forgetting as socially constituted activities. The starting point for all the authors is a conceptualization of remembering and forgetting as forms of social action. Individual memories cannot be understood as "internal mental processes" occurring independently of the interpretative and communicative practices that characterize a particular society or culture. Individuals "read", account for and negotiate their memories within the pragmatics of social life. The book also explores the collective processes through which communities' social memories are created, sustained and transformed - in families, other groups and cultures, and organizations. They examine the ways in which what is to be remembered - or forgotten - can become rhetorically and ideologically contested domains for the "possession" of the past, present and future. The social character of memory is a focus of growing interest across a range of disciplines, including psychology, history and historical geography, linguistics and communication studies, sociology and social theory.
This book deals comprehensively with the elements of cost accounting, their application to costing methods, and their significance for management through budgetary control, short term decision-making, and capital budgeting. It is an extensive revision of the author's well-known costing text, and provides the student with a complete introduction to cost accounting. Relevant exercises are included at the end of each chapter, with solutions at the end of the book. These include many from recent examinations of the major professional accountancy bodies. Teachers are thus able to use their own favourite examples in lecture or class, and to refer students to other exercises for further practice. Students who are unable to attend a regular course will be able to check their work against the solutions. A series of multiple choice questions throughout the book provides a further opportunity for the student to check personal progress. Other features of the book include: a complete introduction to cost accounting; new material on capital budgeting and cost accounting for service activities; an explanation of budgetary control including behavioural aspects; and graded questions and MCQs throughout (definitions follow CIMA terminology).
`There is much that is fascinating here. Long-established experiments and conclusions are rubbished and reinterpreted, long-established assumptions and beliefs about emotions are soundly trounced, and generally a good going-over is delivered to the whole field... it is such a blockbuster that one can only reel backwards and tell anyone studying the subject that they would be crazy not to get it' - Self & Society This fascinating book overviews the psychology of the emotions in its broadest sense, tracing historical, social, cultural and biological themes and analyses. The contributors - some of the leading figures in the field - produce a new theoretical synthesis by drawing together these strands. From the standpoint of the function of the emotions in everyday life, the authors focus on: the discursive role played by the emotions in expressing judgements about, attitudes to and contrition for actions done by the self and others, and how certain emotions - such as guilt, shame, embarrassment, chagrin and regret - seem to play a role in social control; the variation and diversity in emotion, which provides scope for exploring how patterns of emotion contrast in different societies, across gender lines, at different historical times, and between children and adults; and the way in which the body is shaped and its functions influenced by culturally maintained patterns of emotion displays.
This book outlines the changes occurring in Britain's rural areas and their impact on people's lives. It challenges the image of the 'rural idyll' which many of the nation's city dwellers hold. A key feature of the book is the use of local case-study material to illustrate the major themes identified from a broader evaluation of the topics. This approach gives readers a better feel for the nature and implications of social change in the countryside than can be obtained from standard texts on rural geography.
`Wengraf provides a comprehensive theoretical and practical guide to the planning, conduct, and interpretative analysis of data by semi-structured interviewing methods. Forthright and frank in his comments about the limitations and practical implications of varying choices which investigators have to make in designing their research projects. Reading this text is like having a tough but expert and caring mentor who wants you to do the best research possible, but will not hesitate to tell you when your ideology and assumptions skew that possibility' - Vincent W Hevern, Le Moyne College, USA Unique in its conceptual coherence and the level of practical detail, this book provides a comprehensive resource for those concerned with the practice of semi-structured interviewing, the most commonly used interview approach in social research, and in particular for in-depth, biographic narrative interviewing. It covers the full range of practices from the identification of topics through to strategies for writing up research findings in diverse ways.
