The production of ‘human waste’ – or more precisely, wasted lives, the ‘superfluous’ populations of migrants, refugees and other outcasts – is an inevitable outcome of modernization. It is an unavoidable side-effect of economic progress and the quest for order which is characteristic of modernity. As long as large parts of the world remained wholly or partly unaffected by modernization, they were treated by modernizing societies as lands that were able to absorb the excess of population in the ‘developed countries’. Global solutions were sought, and temporarily found, to locally produced overpopulation problems. But as modernization has reached the furthest lands of the planet, ‘redundant population’ is produced everywhere and all localities have to bear the consequences of modernity’s global triumph. They are now confronted with the need to seek – in vain, it seems – local solutions to globally produced problems. The global spread of the modernity has given rise to growing quantities of human beings who are deprived of adequate means of survival, but the planet is fast running out of places to put them. Hence the new anxieties about ‘immigrants’ and ‘asylum seekers’ and the growing role played by diffuse ‘security fears’ on the contemporary political agenda. With characteristic brilliance, this new book by Zygmunt Bauman unravels the impact of this transformation on our contemporary culture and politics and shows that the problem of coping with ‘human waste’ provides a key for understanding some otherwise baffling features of our shared life, from the strategies of global domination to the most intimate aspects of human relationships.
This unique volume gathers Weber's writings on a broad array of themes, from the nature of work, to the political culture of democracy, to the uniqueness of the West, to the character of the family and race relations, to the role of science and the fate of ethical action in the modern world. Gathers Weber’s writings in a comprehensive collection, organized by topic. Rejuvenates a central, pivotal theme of Weberian thought: «How do we live?» and "How can we live in the industrial society?” Connects Weber’s writings to contemporary issues through modern essays and editorial introductions.
This comprehensive volume ranges across the entire spectrum of contemporary sociological inquiry, as seen by Durkheim. It also includes secondary readings by social thinkers of today, connecting the classic writings of Durkheim to contemporary issues. Organizes Durkheim's writings thematically, in a comprehensive collection Includes selections from Durkheim's best-known writings as well as less widely-known texts that explore the themes of modern sociology Contains secondary readings by key contemporary social thinkers today Connects the classic writings of Durkheim to contemporary issues Includes a substantial editorial introduction by a leading Durkheim scholar
Part analysis of contemporary change and part vision of the future, post-Fordism lends its name to a set of challenging, essential and controversial debates over the nature of capitalism's newest age. This book provides a superb introduction to these debates and their far-reaching implications, and includes key texts by post-Fordism's major theorists and commentators.
This book systematically reconstructs the origins and new advances in economic sociology. By presenting both classical and contemporary theory and research, the volume identifies and describes the continuity between past and present, and the move from economics to economic sociology. Most comprehensive and up-to-date overview available by an internationally renowned, award-winning economic sociologist Systematically reconstructs the origins and new advances in economic sociology Organizes the perspectives and methods of economic sociologists of the classical and contemporary eras, including coverage of modernization, globalization, and the welfare state Provides insights into the social consequences of capitalism in the past and present for students of economic sociology.
Combining current theory and original fieldwork, Queer Visibilities explores the gap between liberal South African law and the reality for groups of queer men living in Cape Town. Explores the interface between queer sexuality, race, and urban space to show links between groups of queer men Focuses on three main 'population groups' in Cape Town—white, coloured, and black Africans Discusses how HIV remains a key issue for queer men in South Africa Utilizes new research data—the first comprehensive cross-community study of queer identities in South Africa
Redundant Masculinities? investigates the links between the so-called 'crisis of masculinity' and contemporary changes in the labour market through the lives of young working class men. Allows the voices of poorly-educated young men to be heard. Looks at how the labour market is changing. Emphasises the social construction of gender and racial identities. Dispels popular myths about the crisis in masculinity.
This book critically interrogates the work of David Harvey, one of the world's most influential geographers, and one of its best known Marxists. Considers the entire range of Harvey's oeuvre, from the nature of urbanism to environmental issues. Written by contributors from across the human sciences, operating with a range of critical theories. Focuses on key themes in Harvey's work. Contains a consolidated bibliography of Harvey's writings.
This book explores the multiple ways in which archaeologists give meaning to the past, highlighting debates over the ontological and epistemological status of the discipline and evaluating current responses to these issues. Explains why absolute foundations in archaeology are inadequate and looks at the alternatives. Highlights debates over the ontological and epistemological status of the discipline and evaluates current responses to these issues. Defines a new space for archaeological discourse and dialogue.
This volume offers lively current debates and case studies in historical archaeology selected from around the world, including North America, Latin America, Africa, the Pacific, and Europe. Authored by 19 experts in the field. Explores how historical archaeologists think about their work, piecing together information from both material culture and documents in an attempt to understand the lives of the people and societies they study. Engages with current theory in an accessible manner. Truly global in its approach but avoids subsuming local experiences of people into global patterns. Summarizes not only the current state of historical archaeology, but also sets the course for the field in decades to come.