Showing papers in "British Journal of Sociology in 1996"

The long twentieth century: money, power, and the origins of our times

Abstract: This work traces the epochal shifts in the relatiohsip between capital accumulation and state formation over a 700-year period The author synthesizes social theory, comparative history and historical narrative in this account of the structures and agencies which have shaped the course of world history over the millennium Borrowing from Braudel, Giovanni Arrighi argues that the history of capitalism has unfolded as a succession of "long centuries" - ages during which a hegemonic power deploying a novel combination of economic and political networks secured control over an expanding world-economic space But this is not simply history confined to the "longue duree" The modest beginnings, rise and violent unravelling of the links forged between capital, state power and geopolitics by hegemonic classes and states are explored Arrighi argues that a specific logic governed the concentration of power and eventual surrender of control over the strategic sites of commercial, financial and political power From this perspective, he explains the changing fortunes of Florentine, Venetian, Genoese, Dutch, English and, finally, American capitalism The book concludes with an examination of the forces which have shaped and are now poised to undermine America's world power Giovanni Arrighi is the author of "The Geometry of Imperialism", and the co-author of "Antisystemic Movements" and "Dynamics of Global Crisis"

Moral Panics: The Social Construction of Deviance

Abstract: Acknowledgements. Prologue. 1. A Prelude to Moral Panics: Three Moral Crusades. 2. Enter Moral Panics. 3. Moral Panics: An Introduction. 4. Deviance and Morality. 5. Deviance, Moral Entrepreneurs, and Criminal Law. 6. Social Problems. 7. Collective Behavior. 8. Social Movements. 9. Three Theories of Moral Panics. 10. The Renaissance Witchcraze. 11. The Israeli Drug Panic of 1982. 12. The American Drug Panic of the 1980s. 13. Moral Panics: Demise and Institutionalization. References.

Class analysis and the reorientation of class theory: the case of persisting differentials in educational attainment†

Abstract: In class analysis the main regularities that have been established by empirical research are not ones of long-term class formation or decomposition, as envisaged in Marxist or liberal theory, but rather ones that exhibit the powerful resistance to change of class relations and associated life-chances and patterns of social action. If these regularities are to be explained, theory needs to be correspondingly reoriented, and must abandon functionalist and teleological assumptions in favour of providing more secure micro-foundations. This argument is developed and illustrated in the course of an attempt to apply rational action theory to the explanation of persisting class differentials in educational attainment.

Parasites, pawns and partners: disability research and the role of non-disabled researchers

Abstract: Important methodological questions are raised by the act of researching disablement. Disability research has attracted much methodological criticism from disabled people who argue that it has taken place within an oppressive theoretical paradigm and within an oppressive set of social relations. These issues are of heightened significance for non-disabled researchers and bear many similarities to those faced by researchers investigating barriers to the social inclusion of women, Black and ‘Third World’ peoples. Such challenges have led to the development of an ‘emancipatory’ research paradigm. Six principles of emancipatory research are identified and the authors’ own research projects are critically examined within this framework. A number of contradictions are identified and an attempt made to balance the twin requirements of political action and academic rigour.

Foucault and Law: Towards a Sociology of Law as Governance

Abstract: Description: An inspirational work that will change the way we think about the legal order.' Professor Pat O'Malley, La Trobe University 'This lively and lucid book will do much to show the importance of viewing law as an aspect of governmentality.' Professor David Garland, University of Edinburgh When he died in 1984, Michel Foucault was regarded as one of the most profoundly influential philosophers of his day. Although the law itself never formed a central focus for Foucault, many of the principal themes in his writings are concerned with issues of governance and power that are of direct relevance to the study of law. And yet, until now, Foucault's work has attracted only fleeting attention from the legal academy. Foucault and Law corrects this oversight. Opening with a lucid, critical and unpretentious account of Foucault's work, Hunt and Wickham map out a terrain of methodological and theoretical principals, providing the groundwork for a new sociology of law as governance

Measuring left right and libertarian- authoritarian values in the British electorate

Abstract: A B S'I'RA C' I' Butler and Stokes' authoritative analysis of the British electorate concluded that in general voters' political attitudes were poorly formed and, in consequence, unstable and inconsistent. This paper re-examines this question by developing and evaluating multiple-item scales of two core dimensions of mass political beliefs: left-right and libertarian-authoritarian values. The scales are shown to have respectable levels of internal consistency, high levels of stability over a one-year period, and to be useful predictors of support for political parties. In these respects they compare favourably with other commonly used indicators of political attitudes, values and ideology (left-right self-placement, postmaterialism and attitudes to nationalization). This superiority applies across different levels of political involvement. Contrary to the conclusions of earlier research into mass political ideology in Britain, therefore, it is contended that in general the electorate has meaningful political beliefs. Moreover, as the scales developed in this research form part of the British and Northern Irish Social Attitudes Series and recent British Election Studies, they provide an important resource for further studies of political culture in the UK.

Connecting Gender and Ageing: A Sociological Approach

Abstract: "Only connect" - gender relations and ageing ageing, gender and sociological theory theorizing age and gender relations conformity and resistance as women age gendered work, gendered retirement choice and constraint in the retirement of older married women the married lives of older people "I'm the eyes and she's the arms" - changes in gender roles in advanced old age mutual care but differential esteem - caring between older couples gender roles, employment and informal care gender and elder abuse gender and social support networks in later life connecting gender and ageing - a new beginning?

Feminist fallacies: a reply to Hakim on women's employment.

Abstract: Les AA. s'efforcent de repondre aux affirmations de C. Hakim selon lesquelles la sociologie feministe en repliquant aux analyses patriarcales a cree de nouveaux mythes concernant l'emploi des femmes et s'est ecartee de l'evidence. Ils estiment que ces theses sont provocantes. Ils presentent une refutation de chacune d'entre elles. Ils affirment que Hakim a mesinterprete les donnees concernant les attitudes des femmes envers le travail et montrent que les emplois a temps partiel ne sont pas choisis volontairement par ces dernieres

Theorizing the interview

Abstract: L'A. se demande s'il est possible de theoriser la methode et la pratique de l'interview. Il estime que l'on doit aborder cette question de maniere pluraliste et que l'on doit recourir, en ce domaine, a la fois a une approche de type structuree et a une approche a caractere non-structuree. Il considere que les sociologues ont besoin a la fois de methodes qualitatives et de methodes quantitatives parce qu'elles apportent au chercheur des informations specifiques. Il s'efforce de definir quelle doit etre la tâche et la finalite de l'interview. Il etudie la place du travail theorique dans le cadre de ce type de methode. Il presente l'analyse d'un certain nombre de donnees pour illustrer ses propos

Civic integration and class formation

Abstract: The aim is to explore the usefulness of inverting the class analysis problematic, which starts from class structure and then asks under what conditions sociopolitical class formation occurs, and then how this in turn bears upon social cohesion. By contrast, the route followed here starts from the assumption that the institutional unity of citizenship, market and bureaucratic relations is central to social cohesion, and then concentrates on the questions of how inequalities of class and status affect the institutionalization of citizenship and thereby its integrative function. While its practice is heavily influenced by the structure of social inequality, citizenship cart be seen to exert a force-field of its own. Four main types of 'civic stratification' are distinguished by reference to citizens' differing enjoyment of, and abilities to exercise, rights, their social categorization by the rights themselves and by their motivation to extend and enlarge them: namely, civic exclusion, civic gain and deficit, and civic expansion. Their consequences for social integration are then briefly discussed. One advantage of this approach is that it allows inequalities related to age, gender and ethnicity to be incorporated within the same explanatory scheme.

The woman question

Abstract: This new edition of The Woman Question brings together the most influential analyses of women's position in society to have emerged in the past decade. The discussion encompasses both theoretical issues of identity and the economic and political status of women. It demonstrates the impact of gender not only on how the social world is organized but on how we understand and interpret that world. Recognizing the diversity of women's experiences, it pays particular attention to the interactions of race, class, gender and sexuality. Leading feminists explore the concept of gender difference, its impact on women and its representation in culture. They discuss the material realities of women's lives and how these are differentiated by race. They examine women's relation to powerful institutions, especially the state, and analyze the successes, failures and contradictions of feminist politics.

Co-operative capitalism : corporate networks in Germany and Britain

Abstract: This study examines the capital network (ownership) and the network of interlocking directorates among the 623 largest business firms in Germany and the 520 largest in Britain. Three major differences are identified in the structure of these networks in the two countries: (1) In Germany ownership is highly concentrated, i.e., shareholdings - generally by the non-financial sector - tend to be sufficiently large to allow the owners to dominate the firm. In Britain ownership is much less concentrated, with almost half of all shareholdings - generally in the financial sector - amounting to less than 5 per cent of company stock. (2) In Germany - in contrast to Britain - the network of interlocking directorates is closely related to the capital network, i.e., it serves to enhance the power of the owners. (3) In Germany - in contrast to Britain - both networks are concentrated within the same industry, i.e., potential competitors are associated with one another. Germany thus illustrates 'co-operative capitalism' whereas Britain exemplifies 'competitive capitalism'.

Crime and politics : spot the difference

Abstract: L'A. etudie les relations entre crime et politique. Il s'interesse plus particulierement a la criminologie et porte son attention sur l'ouvrage de D. Matza : « Becoming deviant » publie dans les annees 1960 qui souligne le decalage entre criminologie et politique en matiere criminelle. Il presente, d'autre part, la nouvelle de John Le Carre « The Night manager » ou celui-ci s'efforce de montrer que le trafic de drogue et d'armes constitue la nouvelle menace. Il estime que ces deux ouvrages constituent deux vues complementaires quant aux rapports entre politique et criminalite. Il etudie le lien qui unit systeme politique et systeme de controle social, la nature de la criminalite, les phenomenes de corruption, le crime organise international, la criminalite politique. Il s'efforce de comprendre ce qu'il faut entendre par nouvelle victimisation

The sexual division of labour and women's heterogeneity.

Abstract: The cornments by Bruegel and by Ginn et al. (hereafter the Eleven) on my article4Five feminist myths about female employment' (Hakim 1995b) do not constitute a step forward in research and debate on female employment. Bruegel agrees with me on all main issues; herdisagreements are on points of detail rather than fundamental substance and are presented too briefly to be clear. The Eleven provide a catalogue of selective evidence of the kind that characterizes advocacy research rather than detached and dispassionate social science. What they say is generally arguable. The problem is that they do not give the comptete story and the parts they leave out change our conclusions fundamentally. To take just one example, the Eleven quote a paper by Rubery et al. showing that women part-timers are 'overqualified' for theirjobs, but fail to mention that the paper also shows full-timers to be similarly 'overqualified' for theirjobs. The paper also shows that it is full-time workers, men and women, who most often wish to change their employer if they could, not part-timers. This is hardly consistent with the notion that employers exploit part-timers in particular. They also fail to note that in the same paper part-timers report theirjobs to bejust as secure and permanent as full-timejobs so this can hardly be the cause of higher turnover among part-timers (Rubery et al. 1994: 214, 225, 227). There is agreatdeal of valuable research evidence in this source and other recent publications that the Eleven similarly ignore. On balance, the research evidence shows that part-time work does not change a woman's primary self-identity as a housewife, does not change her bargaining power and weight in decision-making and does not change her role in the household. From a sociological perspective, part-timers can be grouped with housewives rather than with wage workers in aggregate data. We cannot expect the expansion of part-time work to be the catalyst for social and economic change, and this is the key point about the myth of rising female employment, which the Eleven do not even address. It will not do for social scientists to be economical with the truth, giving one half of the story but failing to mention the inconvenient evidence. Social scientists are supposed to take account of all the evidence rather than relying on sample selection bias and selective perception to support

Public perceptions of childhood criminality

Abstract: This paper begins with the Jamie Bulger murder in Britain in late 1993 and sets out to examine the sociological contexts of the waves of shock and reaction that were manifested in the public perceptions of this event. Traditional conceptions of the child through modernity and their social and moral implications for generating a particular view of innocence and dependency are considered as providing the baseline from which childhood today appears to drift. Public reaction is analysed in terms of mass media content, against a general ignorance of the actual child's point of view. The paper concludes with the broader idea that images of childhood have become closely aligned with expectations of social integration and any fracture of one subsequently threatens the other.

Intelligence, heredity, and environment

Abstract: Part I. The Nature-Nurture Question: New Advances in Behavior-Genetic Research on Intelligence: 1. Behavior genetics and socialization theories of intelligence: truce and reconciliation S. Scarr 2. The puzzle of nongenetic variance A. R. Jensen 3. Identifying genes for cognitive abilities and disabilities R. Plomin 4. Heredity, environment, and IQ in the Texas Adoption Project J. C. Loehlin et al. 5. IQ similarity in twins reared apart: findings and responses to critics T. J. Bouchard Part II. Novel Theoretical Perspectives on the Genes and Culture Controversy: 6. The invalid separation of effects of nature and nurture: lessons from animal experimentation D. Wahlsten and G. Gottlieb 7. Between nature and nurture: the role of human agency in the epigenesis of intelligence T. R. Bidell and K. W. Fischer 8. A third perspective: the symbol systems approach H. Gardner and T. Hatch 9. A cultural psychology perspective on intelligence J. G. Miller 10. A bio-ecological model of intellectual development: moving beyond h2 S. J. Ceci et al. 11. An interactionist perspective on the genesis of intelligence E. W. Gordon and M. P. Lemons Part III. Specific Issues in the Nature-Nurture Controversy: 12. Educating intelligence: infusing the Triarchic theory into school instruction R. J. Sternberg 13. Raising IQ level by vitamin and mineral supplementation H. J. Eysenck and S. J. Schoenthaler 14. The resolution of the nature-nurture controversy by Russian psychology: culturally biased or culturally Specific? E. L. Grigorenko and T. V. Korilova 15. The emerging horizontal dimension of practical intelligence: polycontextuality and boundary crossing in complex work activities Y. Engestrom et al. 16. Cognitive development from infancy to middle childhood Stacey S. Cherney et al. 17. Intelligence, language, nature, and nurture in young twins J. S. Reznick 18. Sources of individual differences in infant social cognition: cognitive and affective aspects of self and other S. Pipp et al. Part IV. Integration and Conclusions: 19. Conclusions E. Hunt 20. Unresolved questions and future directions in behavior genetics studies of intelligence I. Waldman.

Beyond the Prison-House of Language: Discourse as a Sociological Concept

Abstract: The key concept in the argument about journalism emerging in the course of the 19th century is that of discourse. This notion, as many oft-used concepts, is elusive. The objective of the following pages is to explain the way I understand this notion and to indicate the contribution this concept can make, in my opinion, to the sociology of the media.1

Durkheim on Religion@@@Durkheim, Sociologue de l'education@@@Emile Durkheim: Sociologist and Moralist@@@Durkheim's Philosophy of Science and the Sociology of Knowledge: Creating an Intellectual Niche

Abstract: In this demonstration of the link between philosophy of science and scientific practice, Warren Schmaus argues that Durkheim's philosophy is crucial to his sociology. Through a reinterpretation of the relation between Durkheim's major philosophical and sociological works, Schmaus argues that Durkheim's sociology is more than a collection of general observations about society, it reflects a constructed theory of the meanings and causes of social life. Schmaus shows how Durkheim sought to make sociology more rigorous by introducing scientific methods of analysis and explanation into the study of society. Durkheim tried to reveal how implicit, commonly held beliefs actually govern people's lives. Through an original interpretation of Durkheim's landmark writings, Schmaus argues that Durkheim, in his empirical studies, refined both the methods of sociology and a theory about society's shared knowledge and practices.

Social capital and social change

Abstract: G. Kolankiewicz porte son attention sur la theorie du capital social et sur ses capacites a rendre compte du changement social. Il s'interesse aux changements sociaux, economiques et notamment aux consequences des politiques de privatisation. Il evoque les analyses de D. Lockwood concernant les classes sociales et l'impact de l'economie de marche. Il examine les processus de transition vers l'economie de marche au sein des ex-pays du bloc communiste. Il etudie les processus de cooperation sociale dans ce cadre et met en avant, sur le plan analytique, la notion de capital social. R. Pahl commente les analyses de Kolankiewicz et retrace les changements politiques qui ont affecte les pays d'Europe orientale particulierement la Pologne, l'ex-Tchecoslovaquie et la Hongrie

Half-Belief and the Paradox of Ritual Instrumental Activism: A Theory of Modern Superstition

Abstract: La persistance de la superstition apparait au sociologue comme une enigme. La plupart des analystes tendent a le reduire a une survivance et font appel a des theories qui invoquent des facteurs psychologiques et qui omettent par la meme les dimensions historique et culturelle. Elles s'efforcent d'autre part d'assimiler la superstition a la magie. L'A. affirme la necessite d'elaborer une perspective permettant d'isoler la nature des superstitions modernes. Il porte l'attention sur l'activisme instrumental propre aux societes techniques modernes qui soumet les individus a de tres fortes tensions et face auquel la seule reponse rationnelle tient dans l'inactivite et la resignation. Il estime qu'il s'agit par ce biais d'une reponse rituelle qui reaffirme l'autonomie de l'individu. Il souligne que cette approche permet de distinguer entre superstition et magie

Reforming Foucault: a critique of the social control thesis

Abstract: Foucault's work on the prison radically transformed the way social scientists conceive the institutional regulation of life. Drawing on Foucault's thesis about the gradual refinement and expansion of mechanisms of control and discipline in modern society, they quickly began to reveal all the micro-powers and technologies of control at work both inside and outside the criminal justice system. It soon became obvious that every attempt to reform society, to give people more freedom ineluctably becomes its opposite - a technique of domination. No matter where or when, it is the same as it ever was - social control. I challenge this thesis by demonstrating that Foucault's concept of power is not only inscribed in practices of normalization, but, most importantly, in practices of liberation. In light of his work on bio-powers and bio-politics, the constitution of the modern subject through power relations is understood in terms of a 'governmentality' that maximizes life. Hence Foucault's notion of power is better understood as a 'mechanism for life' that includes strategies of self-development that both constrain and enable agency. For the past fifteen years, Michel Foucault's groundbreaking account of the birth of the prison has exerted a powerful influence on the social sciences. Indeed, 'to write today about punishment and classification without Foucault' says criminologist Stanley Cohen 'is like talking about the unconscious without Freud' (1985:10). In Discipline and Punish: the Birth of the Prison (1979), Foucault provided concepts that radically transformed the discourse in which penal reform was typically thought (e.g. Garland 1986). These concepts- 'power/knowledge', 'disciplinary society', 'micro-powers' - have allowed analysts to deconstruct both the liberal conception of the birth of the prison as a humanistic advance over the brutal punishments administered in pre-modern societies, and the Marxist conception of penality as an epiphenomenon of the mode of production. Under Foucault's influence, scholars have rewritten the history of penal reform as the history of the dispersion of a new mode of domination called 'disciplinary power', a power exercised through techniques of objectification, classification and normalization, a power