Translating social theory—a critical commentary

This review provides critical commentary on the sociology of consumption recently developed by Peter Saunders in the new edition of his Social Theory and the Urban Question and elsewhere. Comment is made on the politics of socialized consumption, the sociology of consumption sector cleavages and the concept of a privatized mode of consumption. Note is also made of the methodological critique of realism and the assertion of a Weberian alternative which underpins the contribution. It is argued that although the approach provides some insights it tends to get locked into a series of unproducive conceptual and methodological polarities in its attempt to undermine the supposed hegemonic position of Marxism within contemporary urban studies.

Download Full-text

A Commentary on Ambedkar’s Posthumously Published “Philosophy of Hinduism”

CASTE / A Global Journal on Social Exclusion ◽

10.26812/caste.v1i1.141 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 1 (1) ◽

pp. 17-28

Author(s):

Rajesh Sampath

Keyword(s):

Social Justice ◽

Social Theory ◽

Social Order ◽

Philosophy Of Religion ◽

Philosophical Investigation ◽

Intrinsic Dimension ◽

Structural Inequality ◽

Critical Commentary

This paper offers a critical commentary of Ambedkar's posthumously published "The Philosophy of Hinduism," which was discovered shortly after his death. Given previous, considerable contributions in the fields of law, economics, political and social theory, the work appears to be the beginnings of what remains an incomplete treatise on a new area of investigation for Ambedkar. In this work, Ambedkar tackles the murky and opaque sub-field of philosophy, namely the philosophy of religion. This paper unpacks some of Ambedkar's key insights on the nature of the philosophy of religion to test what elements - considered from a philosophical point view - constitute a religion. Furthermore, given the historical paradigmatic shifts in the nature of religion from antiquity to modernity, Ambedkar identifies two conceptual revolutions from which he will introduce two criteria - utility and justice - to evaluate the nature of Hinduism as a religion. Given his life-long quest to understand Hinduism and caste, ultimately, Ambedkar's goal to overcome what he says is the systemic and structural inequality of caste in the Indian social order leads him to certain negative conclusions: namely whether Hinduism can be characterized as a religion if in fact modern religions must have a foundation in some intrinsic dimension of social justice. This paper constitutes Part I of a longer commentary. The aspiration is that a longer Part II will ultimately extend Ambedkar's philosophical investigation into new domains for which he did not have the opportunity to explore.

Download Full-text

Max Weber’s ideal versus material interest distinction revisited

European Journal of Social Theory ◽

10.1177/1368431017710906 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

pp. 3-21 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Omar Lizardo ◽

Dustin S Stoltz

Keyword(s):

Social Theory ◽

Action Theory ◽

Material Interest ◽

Critical Commentary ◽

Material Interests ◽

Versus Material ◽

The Ideal

While Weber’s distinction between ‘ideal’ and ‘material’ interests is one of the most enduring aspects of his theoretical legacy, it has been subjected to little critical commentary. In this article, we revisit the theoretical legacy of interest-based explanation in social theory, with an eye to clarifying Weber’s place in this tradition. We then reconsider extant critical commentary on the ideal/material interest distinction, noting the primarily Parsonian rendering of Weber and the unproductive allegiance to ‘generic need’ readings of Weber’s action theory. We reconstruct the basis of the ideal/material interest distinction in the work of Rudolph von Ihering and provide a sounder basis for its analytic role in Weber’s ‘grand’ project.

Download Full-text

Revisiting hegemony: A Gramscian analysis for contemporary social work

Irish Journal of Sociology ◽

10.1177/0791603519884201 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 079160351988420

Author(s):

Susan Flynn

Keyword(s):

Civil Society ◽

Social Work ◽

Social Workers ◽

Social Theory ◽

Work Practice ◽

Social Work Practice ◽

Antonio Gramsci ◽

Social Theorist ◽

Critical Commentary ◽

Contemporary Practice

This paper presents theoretically informed commentary on the concept of hegemony. This is achieved through recourse to the work of hegemony’s originator, the Sardinian social theorist Antonio Gramsci. There is renewed interest in Gramsci’s work within social theory. To date, existing social work literature makes the case for a more direct engagement with Gramscian theorisation. In this paper, the proposition is that Gramsci’s work holds the potential to progress contemporary practice. In seeking to realise this, however, at least one obstacle is encountered. It is argued that a degree of dialectical opposition exists between two themes prevailing in social work practice and pedagogy. This can be problematic for practitioners who are seeking to create civil society change. In the first instance, critical postmodern epistemologies support practitioners to uncover embedded hegemonic assumptions. In the second instance, more conservative managerial–technicist epistemologies also vie for space in wider social work pedagogy and practice. In this context, it is argued that better ideological and theoretical integration of these competing themes would be beneficial for social workers seeking counterhegemonic practice. Overall critical commentary in this paper rearticulates the importance of Gramsci’s hegemony for social workers in the present time.

Download Full-text

A New Critical Theory Based on Rational Choice?

Dialogue ◽

10.1017/s0012217300006247 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 44 (2) ◽

pp. 351-362

Author(s):

Matthias Fritsch

Keyword(s):

Critical Theory ◽

Rational Choice ◽

Social Theory ◽

Communicative Action ◽

Critical Social Theory ◽

Critical Commentary ◽

Critical Social

Joseph Heath's Communicative Action and Rational Choice may be read as a critical commentary upon Habermas's critical social theory, but it may also be read as merely using the latter as “scaffolding” (p. 10) for the presentation of Heath's own version of critical theory. In what follows, I will focus on the second option and thus largely ignore the exegetical question to what extent Heath provides a fair reading of Habermas. This does not mean, however, that I will not make comparative judgements. On the contrary, my overall claim will be that Heath's new critical theory is more functionalist, and. partly as a result, less critical than Habermas's. Since lack of space does not permit me to argue this in accordance with the standards of detail that Heath's own book generally observes, my procedure may be justified by the attempt to provoke a clarificatory response from Heath.

Download Full-text

Accent Policy and Accent Modification Enterprises as Potential Indicators of Intercultural Power Relations: A Call for an Updated Research Agenda

Perspectives on Global Issues in Communication Sciences and Related Disorders ◽

10.1044/gics3.1.22 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 3 (1) ◽

pp. 22-33 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Brynne D. Ovalle ◽

Rahul Chakraborty

Keyword(s):

International Relations ◽

Identity Construction ◽

Social Theory ◽

Power Relations ◽

Linguistic Diversity ◽

Cultural Organization ◽

Using Data ◽

The Individual ◽

The Impact ◽

The Relationship

This article has two purposes: (a) to examine the relationship between intercultural power relations and the widespread practice of accent discrimination and (b) to underscore the ramifications of accent discrimination both for the individual and for global society as a whole. First, authors review social theory regarding language and group identity construction, and then go on to integrate more current studies linking accent bias to sociocultural variables. Authors discuss three examples of intercultural accent discrimination in order to illustrate how this link manifests itself in the broader context of international relations (i.e., how accent discrimination is generated in situations of unequal power) and, using a review of current research, assess the consequences of accent discrimination for the individual. Finally, the article highlights the impact that linguistic discrimination is having on linguistic diversity globally, partially using data from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and partially by offering a potential context for interpreting the emergence of practices that seek to reduce or modify speaker accents.

Download Full-text