Social Theory, Power and Practice

Social Theory, Power and Practice explores key strands of contemporary social theory in developing an innovative framework for understanding the operation of power. This draws on structural theories of inequality and oppression and poststructural deconstructions of discourse, identity and emotion. These are used to examine the dynamics of social and personal change, and to inform the development of empowering practice within the human services with those who may experience distress, abuse or exclusion.

Jerry Tew is Senior Lecturer, School of Social Work, University of Central England.

List of Figures

ix

Acknowledgements

x

Introduction

1

(9)

Everything in its Proper Place? Modernism and Postmodernism

10

(23)

Modernism and modernity

10

(7)

Critical theory

17

(2)

Postmodernism

19

(5)

Modernist practice

24

(5)

Postmodern practice

29

(4)

Exposing Conflict: Structural Approaches to Power and Inequality

33

(32)

Objective, material and real: unpicking ontologies

33

(4)

Structural theory

37

(2)

Theories of class and capital

39

(6)

Theories of gender, age, sexuality and (dis)ability: extending concepts of patriarchy

45

(8)

Theories of imperialism, colonialism and racism

53

(5)

Integrating structural theories

58

(2)

Structural theory and social activism

60

(5)

What's the Story? Poststructuralism, Discourse and Narrative

65

(32)

Ideology and culture

65

(3)

Discourse and narrative

68

(3)

Poststructuralism and language

71

(4)

Approaches to deconstruction

75

(5)

Psychoanalysis and language

80

(2)

Foucault and the archaeology of the modern

82

(3)

The politics of knowledge: social constructionism and standpoint epistemologies

85

(3)

Poststructural practice: working with language and narrative

88

(9)

Hidden Depths: Reclaiming Emotionality

97

(24)

Emotionality under modernism

98

(6)

Shifts within modernism: emotion in psychology and sociology

104

(4)

The question of desire

108

(2)

Critical perspectives: power relations and emotionality

110

(4)

Theorising emotionality as a distinct level of social experience

114

(2)

Witnessing and mobilising emotions: issues for practice

116

(5)

Stepping out: (De)constructing Identities

121

(31)

Decentring the subject

122

(4)

Performing identities

126

(3)

Opening up the psyche

129

(9)

The art of projection

138

(2)

Conscripting `the body'

140

(3)

Reflexive identities

143

(3)

`Cutting up and remoulding': working with identities

146

(6)

Relations of Power

152

(25)

Power and modernism

152

(4)

Theories of oppression and discrimination

156

(3)

Foucault and the dispersal of power

159

(3)

Reclaiming productive aspects of power

162

(3)

A matrix of power relations

165

(2)

Reconceptualising empowerment

167

(3)

Power in practice

170

(7)

Systems, Instabilities and Change

177

(26)

Systems, harmony and change

177

(3)

Agency and subjectivity

180

(2)

Generative tensions: power and contradiction

182

(2)

Power relations and the dynamics of change

184

(2)

Crisis and resolution

186

(8)

Strategies for emancipatory change: towards a critical practice

194

(9)

Conclusions for Theory and Practice

203

(4)

Bibliography

207

(20)

Index

227

What is included with this book?

The New copy of this book will include any supplemental materials advertised. Please check the title of the book to determine if it should include any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.

The Used, Rental and eBook copies of this book are not guaranteed to include any supplemental materials. Typically, only the book itself is included. This is true even if the title states it includes any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.

FREE SHIPPING

Amazon no longer offers textbook rentals. We do!

Social Theory, Power and Practice

Summary

Author Biography

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials