"Ideology and the New Social Movements" provides an assessment of current debates concerning the nature and motivation of social movements and collective action. In particular, Alan Scott focuses on the competing theoretical explanations of the rise and character of the "new social movements" in North America and Europe. After introducing the major themes in the debate about new social movements, the book reviews mainstream theories, both functionalist and neo-Marxist, then moves on to a discussion of recent sociological, economic and political writings. Specific examples, most notably the rise of the West German Greens, are used to assess the value of the different approaches. Alan Scott argues that theories of long-term change, such as the transition to the "post industrial" society, give insufficient attention to the political and organizational aspects of social movements, and exaggerate the differences between older, class-based movements and the "new" politics. While models inspired by economic analysis do address problems of organization and the barriers to collective action, they do so from the standpoint of a narrowly instrumental view of rationality. The author concludes by arguing that the idea of social closure, which can accommodate questions of allegiance and identity and control of resources, has considerable explanatory power, and can encompass the cultural and political aspects of social movements. Such an approach rejects dramatic theories of discontinuity between "old" and "new" social movements.

Ideology and the New Social Movements (Controversies in Sociology)

Politics & Social Sciences

Scott, Alan

Social Sciences

Unwin Hyman

"Ideology and the New Social Movements" provides an assessment of current debates concerning the nature and motivation of social movements and collective action. In particular, Alan Scott focuses on the competing theoretical explanations of the rise and character of the "new social movements" in North America and Europe. After introducing the major themes in the debate about new social movements, the book reviews mainstream theories, both functionalist and neo-Marxist, then moves on to a discussion of recent sociological, economic and political writings. Specific examples, most notably the rise of the West German Greens, are used to assess the value of the different approaches. Alan Scott argues that theories of long-term change, such as the transition to the "post industrial" society, give insufficient attention to the political and organizational aspects of social movements, and exaggerate the differences between older, class-based movements and the "new" politics. While models inspired by economic analysis do address problems of organization and the barriers to collective action, they do so from the standpoint of a narrowly instrumental view of rationality. The author concludes by arguing that the idea of social closure, which can accommodate questions of allegiance and identity and control of resources, has considerable explanatory power, and can encompass the cultural and political aspects of social movements. Such an approach rejects dramatic theories of discontinuity between "old" and "new" social movements.

Ideology and the New Social Movements (Controversies in Sociology, No 24)

From the days of antiquity to the time of the Middle Ages, intellectuals have widely assumed that stars were alive, a belief that gave the cosmos an important position not only in Greek religion, but also in discussions of human psychology and eschatology. In the third century AD, the Christian theologian Origen included such Hellenistic theories on the life and nature of the stars in his cosmology, a theory that would have important implications for early Christian theology. Moving through a wide range of Greek, Latin, and Oriental sources from antiquity to medieval times, this is the first thorough treatment of Origen's biblical theology. The second book in the new Oxford Early Christian Studies series, Origen and the Life of the Stars provides a new look at the roots of early Christian thought.

Origen and the Life of the Stars: A History of an Idea (Oxford Early Christian Studies)

History

Ancient Civilizations

Clarendon Press

From the days of antiquity to the time of the Middle Ages, intellectuals have widely assumed that stars were alive, a belief that gave the cosmos an important position not only in Greek religion, but also in discussions of human psychology and eschatology. In the third century AD, the Christian theologian Origen included such Hellenistic theories on the life and nature of the stars in his cosmology, a theory that would have important implications for early Christian theology. Moving through a wide range of Greek, Latin, and Oriental sources from antiquity to medieval times, this is the first thorough treatment of Origen's biblical theology. The second book in the new Oxford Early Christian Studies series, Origen and the Life of the Stars provides a new look at the roots of early Christian thought.

Europe

Oxford University Press

Remaking Market Society: A Critique of Social Theory and Political Economy in Neoliberal Times (Routledge Frontiers of Political Economy)

Business & Money

Palumbo, Antonino

Economics

Routledge

Ideology and the New Social Movements

"The Uncertain Science" argues that sociology has not freed itself from the influence of philosophy, and specifically from the search for certainty. This "foundationalism" which is characteristic of Western thought has influenced both the method adopted by sociologists, and their research practices. The authors criticize sociology for its formalism, arguing that this blunts the radicalism of its project. To regain the radical and critical edge implicit in sociology, it is necessary to adopt a comparative and historical approach which interprets social science as part of societal learning. In the first part of the book the authors trace formalism to central positions in Western philosophy and examine its impact on historiography, evolutionary social thought and positivist sociology. In the second part they examine the tensions between formalism and social theory in the work of Levi Strauss and Habermas. In part three they compare modernization theory to more recent descussions of "modernity" and "postmodernity", and show the elements of continuity between these apparently contrary positions. This book should be of interest to undergraduates in sociology and philosophy.

The Uncertain Science: Criticism of Sociological Formalism

Gurnah, Ahmed

The Uncertain Science: Criticism of Sociological Formalism (Routledge Revivals)

First published in 1992, this clear and assured book reveals the blind alleys of sociological theory and research. The authors present a bold and persuassive case for abandoning the quest for foundationalism in the social science. Well informed and cogently argued, this will be of particular intrest to students of Sociology and Philosophy.

Sociology

Neoliberalism has been one of the most hotly contested themes in academic and political debate over the last 30 years. Given the global and persistent influence of neoliberal ideas on contemporary styles of governance, social-service provision, and public policy, this intensive interest is understandable. At the same time, the use of the term has become loose, vague, and over-extended, particularly in the extensive critical literature. Rather than engage in further critique, or in the reconstruction of the history of neoliberalism, this volume seeks to bring analytical clarity to the ongoing debate.  Drawing inspiration from the work of the Hungarian economic historian, Karl Polanyi, Remaking Market Society combines critique, original formulations, and case studies to form an analytical framework that identifies the key instruments of neoliberal governance. These include privatization, marketization, and liberalization. The case studies examine the development of neoliberal instruments (reform of the British civil service); their refinement (reform of higher education in England and Wales); and their dissemination across national borders (EU integration policies). Rather than look back nostalgically on the post-war welfare-state settlement, in the final chapter the authors ask why the coalitions that supported that settlement broke down in the face of the neoliberal reform movement.  This highly original work offers a distinctive transdisciplinary approach to political economy, and therefore is an important read for students and academics who are interested in political economy as well as social theory and political philosophy.

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Scott, Alan. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by Scott, Alan

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Scott, Alan. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Ideology and the New Social Movements (Controversies in Sociology)

Ideology and the New Social Movements (Controversies in Sociology, No 24)

Origen and the Life of the Stars: A History of an Idea (Oxford Early Christian Studies)

Origen and the Life of the Stars: A History of an Idea (Oxford Early Christian Studies)

Remaking Market Society: A Critique of Social Theory and Political Economy in Neoliberal Times (Routledge Frontiers of Political Economy)

Ideology and the New Social Movements

The Uncertain Science: Criticism of Sociological Formalism

The Uncertain Science: Criticism of Sociological Formalism (Routledge Revivals)

The Uncertain Science: Criticism of Sociological Formalism (Routledge Revivals)

Remaking Market Society: A Critique of Social Theory and Political Economy in Neoliberal Times (Routledge Frontiers of Political Economy)