Description
Book SynopsisSociety' is one of the most frequently used words in public life; it is also a foundational term in the social sciences. In our own time, however, the idea has never been so much in dispute and so little understood. For some critics, society is simply too consensual for a world of intensive discord.
Trade Review'The individual writings of Elliott and Turner have long been at the forward boundaries of social theory. Here they turn to an axial concept of social thought to explain why it has never quite done what it was meant to, even while it haunts the collective consciousness. Students will devour, teachers will admire, scholars will quibble, all will be amazed by the brilliant creativity packed into a small book of voluminous achievement.'
Charles C. Lemert, Yale University 'It is rare to find such a combination of lucidity and erudition. Many different readers will find much to engage them here, from first-year students to experienced academics. Tremendous.'
John Urry, Lancaster University
'We all need be thankful to Anthony Elliott and Bryan Turner, two acknowledged masters of conceptual analysis and the art of sociological theorizing, for joining forces to scrutinize the meaning of "society". One could not acquit oneself from such a challenge better than they - nor could readers of their study find more illumination, clarity, and persuasive answers to queries in any other sociological treatise.'
Zygmunt Bauman, University of Leeds
Table of ContentsAcknowledgments
Preface
Introduction
1 Society as Structure
2 Society as Solidarity
3 Society as Creation
Conclusion: From Feral to Catastrophic Societies
Notes
