'Society' 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. For others, the idea
of 'society' is oppressive - the very notion, so some argue,
is dismissive of the infinite social differences that shape global
realities.
In this erudite and original book, two of the world's leading
social theorists focus on unravelling the different meanings of
society as a way of introducing the reader to contemporary debates
in social theory. The authors argue provocatively that all ideas of
society can be assigned to one of three analytical categories, or
some combination of these - structure, solidarity or creation - and
develop a fresh characterization of the nature of the social as a
means of understanding global transformations.
By integrating abstract problems of social theory with empirical
examples and political analysis, On Society provides lucid
interpretations of classical and contemporary social theory. The
book also critiques recent social theories that simply equate the
demise of society with globalization, the communications revolution
or multiculturalism, and in so doing provides an original insight
into today's world.
