Social Identity (Key Ideas) - Softcover

Jenkins, Richard

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0415448492 ISBN 13: 9780415448499

Publisher: Routledge, 2008

Synopsis

This third edition builds on the international success of previous editions, offering an easy access critical introduction to social science theories of identity, for advanced undergraduates and postgraduates. All of the previous chapters have been updated and extra material has been added where relevant, for example, on globalization. Two new chapters have been added; one addresses the debate about whether identity matters, discussing, for example, Brubaker; the second reviews the postmodern approach to identity.

The text is informed by relevant topical examples throughout and, as with earlier editions, the emphasis is on sociology, anthropology and social psychology, focusing on the interplay between relationships of similarity and difference; on interaction; on the categorization of others as well as self-identification; and on power, institutions and organizations.

About this title

From the Back Cover:

Social Identity 2e is a pragmatic and carefully reasoned work which avoids some of the distractions of contemporary writing in the field. There are a number of textbooks out in this area but Jenkins book has a specific and demonstrable niche in the market. This revised edition will maintain the sales pattern and position of the book. 

Sales of the current edition:

Life: 2820 sales

2004:836

2005:1043

2006:757

2007:284 to date

The chapter outline will be revised and additional content will add about 12 printed pages to the actual book length, making it up-to-date and more comprehensive in its coverage.

Specifics:

The author will offer a sociological critique of some of the influential viewpoints arising from writers who have followed a different theoretical path such as: Paul Gilroy, Kenan Malik and Charles Lemert, whose writing on multiculture have provided interesting discussion about identity, multiculture and citizenship.

The new edition will respond to the Judith Butler's conception that 'gender is performative'

Issues which have emerged recently: fears of terrorism, environmental collapse, pandemics and asylophobia will be analysed in the text. Moral Panic is inadequate to account for the everyday nature of these occurrences.

Some of the suggested debates around concepts of communities of practice and arguments about the illusory nature of identity will provide fresh references.

About the Author:

Richard Jenkins is Professor of Sociology at the University of Sheffield, UK. Trained as an anthropologist he has done research in Ireland, Britain and Denmark. Among his other books are Foundations of Sociology (2002), Pierre Bourdieu (2nd edition 2002) and Rethinking Ethnicity (2nd edition 2008).

About this edition

• Publisher: Routledge
• Publication date: 2008
• ISBN 10: 0415448492
• ISBN 13: 9780415448499
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 3
• Number of pages: 256