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Critical theory
About: Critical theory is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 5372 publications have been published within this topic receiving 164765 citations.
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TL;DR: The authors reconstructs mainstream constructivists' inclinations toward what I argue are sociological accounts of norms, in which the question of the latter's justification is comprehensively sidelined, and they suggest that despite some important limitations of its own, Critical Theory is in a better position to address "isses" and "oughts" than constructivism's readings of it would suggest.
Abstract: The social theoretic turn inaugurated under the rise of constructivism in International Relations has, among other themes, created a much-enlarged space for treating norms as efficacious explanatory variables in analyses of world politics. In this article, I reconstruct mainstream constructivists’ inclinations toward what I argue are sociological accounts of norms, in which the question of the latter’s justification is comprehensively sidelined. I initially show how constructivists’ strategy of delineating their approaches from Critical Theory and post-structural analyses sustains social theoretic commitments, which compound this problem. In the second part of the article, I focus on Richard Price’s programmatic attempt to reconcile the constructivist achievements in empirical research on the efficacy of norms with normative theorizing. The idea of building a bridge from ‘isses’ to ‘oughts’ labors, as I demonstrate, from the outset under construction problems, which cannot be resolved on the premises from which Price seeks to operate. Concluding this part, I consider the possibility of supplementing Price’s account with consequentialist normative theory, and demonstrate that this would incur further problems for a normative theoretic framework for the study of world politics. In the final part, I outline key themes of Critical Theory with the aim of addressing some persistent misunderstandings about its scope, social theoretic outlook, and normative commitments. Linking back to the critical appraisal of mainstream constructivism’s norm-sociological commitments, I suggest that despite some important limitations of its own, Critical Theory is in a better position to address ‘isses’ and ‘oughts’ than constructivists’ readings of it would suggest.
44 citations
Book•
23 Jul 2014
TL;DR: The concept of anti-discriminatory and anti-oppressive practice have long been embedded in social work, but whereas once these may have offered an alternative critique of individual and societal relations, they have long since become part of mainstream thinking and have lost their political edge.
Abstract: The concepts of anti-discriminatory and anti-oppressive practice have long been embedded in social work, but whereas once these may have offered an alternative critique of individual and societal relations, they have long since become part of mainstream thinking and have lost their political edge. This book kick-starts an overdue debate by rethinking how social work understands the complexity of human interactions and experiences. In so doing, it provides an opportunity for readers to engage with fundamental concepts such as diversity, equality and social justice. It uses the ideas of Foucault in which to examine a range of concepts associated with these. The book begins by evaluating the contribution which anti-discriminatory and anti-oppressive theories have made before going on to examine how social work can build on its historical commitment to working with marginalised groups and move forward in its thinking. Chapters cover a wide range of practice contexts, including disability, families, and asylum seekers, and are supplemented by an engaging ‘key ideas for practice’ feature to highlight the connections between theory and practice.
This book provides fresh new perspectives for students, drawn from critical social theory and on the work of practitioners and researchers who want to proactively engage with issues of justice and equality in social work.
44 citations
TL;DR: The authors examines the claim that critical management studies (CMS) is based on the Frankfurt School of critical theory and concludes that "critical management studies has pervaded the field of management studies, claiming to be based on critical theory".
Abstract: Critical management studies (CMS) has pervaded the field of management studies, claiming to be based on the Frankfurt School of critical theory. This paper examines that claim. It starts with a bri...
44 citations
TL;DR: This paper investigated the potential impacts of this approach with the aid of the critical theory of Jurgen Habermas, and his concept of colonisation, and found that teachers in any subject have a responsibility to structure and deliver their teaching in a critical, bottom-up fashion.
Abstract: IT education has become a key skill for higher education students, but the teaching of this subject is often ineffective. Office‐related, “button‐pushing” skills are passed onto students via standardised packages with little regard for context and individual needs. Attempts to use IT to foster more critical and foundational faculties are lacking. The potential impacts of this approach are investigated with the aid of the critical theory of Jurgen Habermas, and his concept of colonisation. As they are amongst the agents for the transmission and reproduction of society, educators in any subject have a responsibility to structure and deliver their teaching in a critical, bottom‐up fashion. This especially applies to IT education.
44 citations
Book•
26 May 2001
TL;DR: Marcuse as discussed by the authors discusses the problem of social change in the Technological Society and the individual in the Great Society, and the Containment of Social Change in Industrial Society with respect to Eros and Civilization.
Abstract: Introduction 1. The Problem of Social Change in the Technological Society 2. The Individual in the Great Society 3. The Containment of Social Change in Industrial Society 4. 1966 Political Preface to Eros and Civilization 5. Beyond One-Dimensional Man 6. Cultural Revolution 7. The Historical Fate of the Bourgeois Democracy 8. Watergate: When Law and Morality Stand in the Way 9. A Revolution in Values 10. Letters: Herbert Marcuse to Leo Lowenthal Leo Lowenthal to Richard Popkin Herbert Marcuse to T.W. Adorno T.W. Adorno and Max Horkheimer to Herbert Marcuse Herbert Marcuse to T.W. Adorno and Max Horkheimer Herbert Marcuse to Raya Dunayevskaya Raya Dunayevskaya to Herbert Marcuse to Raya Dunayevskaya
44 citations