{"product_id":"the-dark-side-of-modernity-hardback-9780745648217","title":"The Dark Side of Modernity (Hardback) 9780745648217","description":"\u003cfont face=\"Georgia\"\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"6\"\u003eThe Dark Side of Modernity\u003c\/font\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"4\"\u003eJeffrey C. Alexander (Author)\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003e9780745648217, Polity Press\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003eHardback, published 18 January 2013\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003e200 pages\u003cbr\u003e23.6 x 15.8 x 2 cm, 0.435 kg\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\u003cp align=\"justify\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"Jeffery Alexander’s The dark side of modernity (2013) is an eclectic collection of essays written over 25 years and spanning from discussions on a few key theorists – including Weber, Simmel, Eisenstadt, and Parsons – to engagements with some of the central themes of modernity... its greatest contribution is that it allows us to reconsider some of the founding debates of our discipline.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eInformation, Communication \u0026amp; Society\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Alexander greatly contributes to social theory by demonstrating the two sides of the coin of modernity in his explanation to diverse approaches and various thinkers in the field.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/rossjournal.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Review-of-Social-Studies-Vol-1-No-1-October-2014_A10.pdf\"\u003eReview of Social Studies\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"This book offers a highly engaging and insightful overview of modernity\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003ePolitical Studies Review\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"No major figure in American social theory has reached so far beyond regional traditions to reinvent the language by which we interpret culture, politics, and the dilemmas of modernity. \u003ci\u003eThe Dark Side of Modernity\u003c\/i\u003e collects superb essays representative of Jeff Alexander's special gift for clear expression, unflinching criticism, and creative thinking.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eCharles Lemert, Center for Comparative Research, Sociology, Yale University\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Modernity has had its critics from the beginning, but social science in general and sociology in particular have mainly supported the idea that it is a 'good thing.' Few were willing to look squarely at the dark side of modernity, Weber being a partial exception. Jeffrey Alexander has looked unflinchingly at the dark side, not holding it to be the only truth about modernity, but an inescapable aspect of it. His new book is indispensable for anyone who wants to look at modernity whole.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eRobert Bellah, University of California, Berkeley and coauthor of \u003ci\u003eHabits of the Heart\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp align=\"justify\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn this book, one of the world’s leading social theorists presents a critical, alarmed, but also nuanced understanding of the post-traditional world we inhabit today. Jeffrey Alexander writes about modernity as historical time and social condition, but also as ideology and utopia. The idea of modernity embodies the Enlightenment’s noble hopes for progress and rationality, but its reality brings great suffering and exposes the destructive impulses that continue to motivate humankind.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e Alexander examines how twentieth-century theorists struggled to comprehend the Janus-faced character of modernity, which looks backward and forward at the same time. Weber linked the triumph of worldly asceticism to liberating autonomy but also ruthless domination, describing flights from rationalization as systemic and dangerous. Simmel pointed to the otherness haunting modernity, even as he normalized the stranger. Eisenstadt celebrated Axial Age transcendence, but acknowledged its increasing capacity for barbarity. Parsons heralded American community, but ignored modernity’s fragmentations.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e Rather than seeking to resolve modernity’s contradictions, Alexander argues that social theory should accept its Janus-faced character. It is a dangerous delusion to think that modernity can eliminate evil. Civil inclusion and anti-civil exclusion are intertwined. Alexander enumerates dangerous frictions endemic to modernity, but he also suggests new lines of social amelioration and emotional repair.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003eCONTENTS\u003cbr\u003e Preface and Acknowledgements\u003cbr\u003e Introduction\u003cbr\u003e Chapter 1: Social Theory between Progress and Apocalypse\u003cbr\u003e Chapter 2: Autonomy and Domination: Weber’s Cage\u003cbr\u003e Chapter 3: Barbarism and Modernity: Eisenstadt’s Regret\u003cbr\u003e Chapter 4: Integration and Justice: Parsons’ Utopia\u003cbr\u003e Chapter 5: Despising Others: Simmel’s Stranger\u003cbr\u003e Chapter 6: Meaning Evil\u003cbr\u003e Chapter 7: De-civilizing the Civil Sphere\u003cbr\u003e Chapter 8: Psychotherapy as Central Institution\u003cbr\u003e Chapter 9: The Frictions of Modernity and their Possible Repair\u003cbr\u003e Notes\u003cbr\u003e Bibliography\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003eSubject Areas: Sociology \u0026amp; anthropology [\u003ca title=\"See our other books on Sociology \u0026amp; anthropology\" href=\"https:\/\/freshlyprintedbooks.co.uk\/search?q=%22Sociology%20\u0026amp;%20anthropology%20%5BJH%5D%22\"\u003eJH\u003c\/a\u003e]\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\r\n\u003c\/font\u003e","brand":"Polity","offers":[{"title":"Brand New","offer_id":52407317266712,"sku":"9780745648217","price":45.76,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0730\/2037\/5320\/files\/9780745648217.jpg?v=1784161180","url":"https:\/\/freshlyprintedbooks.co.uk\/products\/the-dark-side-of-modernity-hardback-9780745648217","provider":"Freshly Printed Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}