Social Theory

Jonathan Joseph is a Lecturer in Politics at the University of Kent, Canterbury. He is Author of Social Theory: Conflict, Cohesion and Consent (EUP, 2003), Hegemony: A Realist Analysis (Routledge, 2002) and co-editor of Realism, Discourse and Deconstruction (Routledge, 2002).

1: Introduction; 2: Marx and Engels; (i) Social classes and the role of class struggle in history; (ii) Economic analysis of capitalist society; (iii) The state; (iv) The concept of ideology; (v) Social conflict and social change; 3. Antonio Gramsci and the concept of hegemony; (i); The critique of Marxism and the model of economic base and political-cultural; superstructure; (ii); Machiavelli and the Modern Prince - strategies for leading and directing; (iii); Hegemony: Coercion and consent; (iv); Hegemony: Historical bloc and passive revolution; (v); Hegemonic strategy: Wars of position and manoeuvre; (vi); The role of the intellectual, consent through organic ideas; (vii); Recent applications: Economic and cultural theory; (4); Max Weber and rationalisation; (i); Charismatic leadership, traditional leadership and domination; (ii); The state as a monopoly of violence. Civil society and the determination of; social status; (iii); Legal-rational society, the modern state and its legitimacy; (iv); Elitism and the rise of bureaucracy (also introduces elitist theorists); (v); Modernity and the 'iron cage'; (5); The Frankfurt School; (i); Influences: A synthesis of Weber and Marx; (ii); Adorno and Horkheimer: Enlightenment thinking; (iii); Adorno and Horkheimer: The role of the culture industry; (iv); Marcuse: One-dimensional society; (v); Jurgen Habermas: Public sphere and legitimation crisis; (vi); Habermas: System, lifeworld and communication; (6); Michel Foucault; (i); Discourse: Madness and civilisation; (ii); Practice: Discipline and punishment; (iii); Power and knowledge; (iv); Foucault and feminism; (v); Foucault and postmodernism; (7); Conclusion.