In this ambitious work, Fred Weinstein confronts the obstacles that have increasingly frustrated our attempts to explain social and historical reality. Traditionally, we have relied on history and social theory to describe the ways people understand the world they live in. But the ordering explanations we have always used―derived from the classical social theories originally forged by Marx, Tocqueville, Weber, Durkheim, Freud―have collapsed.

In the wake of this collapse or "fall," the rival claims of fiction, psychoanalysis, sociology, anthropology, and history have created the dilemma of radical relativism, the prospect of multiple interpretations of any complex historical event. The basic strategy of social theory and the social sciences―the search for underlying unities―proves so inherently contradictory and has provided so little in the way of reliable knowledge of social and historical relationships that to many critics it seems no longer worth pursuing.

Weinstein enters the debate by rejecting any search for underlying structural unities, dynamic or social, through which historians have attempted to find continuity with the past. He looks instead to ideological processes, to the construction of successive and changing versions of reality that mediate between the power of fantasy on the one side and the power of the social world on the other. He argues further that the need to use ideological constructs in this way accounts for the heterogeneous and changing content of social movements and for the persistent need people have always had for authoritative leaders, even in democratized societies. He suggests that people have historically been able to take a step away from leaders only by substituting the possession of objects such as property or money. This book is a breakthrough in poststructuralist theory that is sure to stimulate considerable discussion, especially about the shape of the social sciences and the future of historical interpretation.

About the Author

Fred Weinstein, professor and department chair in history at the State University of New York at Stony Brook, is the author of The Dynamics of Nazism and, with Gerald M. Platt, The Wish to Be Free and Psychoanalytic Sociology.

"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.

Store Description

Dewey Books of Port Tobacco Maryland deals in new and used book sales and products. We strive to provide our customers with fair market prices and value based on proper item assessment and categorization.

Visit Seller's Storefront

Seller's business information

Dewey Books PTMD
MD, U.S.A.

Sale & Shipping Terms

Terms of Sale

All sales are based upon fair market value item assessment and quaility catergorization conducted by Dewey Books PTMD assesors. Dewey Books PTMD strives to process orders and deliver in a timely manner. Purchases will be processed thru AbeBooks.com payment processing.

Right of cancellation

If you are a consumer you can cancel the contract in accordance with the following. Consumer means any natural person who is acting for purposes which are outside his trade, business, craft or profession.

INFORMATION REGARDING THE RIGHT OF CANCELLATION

Statutory Right to cancel

You have the right to cancel this contract within 14 days without giving any reason.

The cancellation period will expire after 14 days from the day on which you acquire, or a third party other than the carrier and indicated by you acquires, physical possession of the the last good or the last lot or piece.

To exercise the right to cancel, you must inform us, Dewey Books PTMD, 8040 Norwich Ct, 20677, Port Tobacco, Maryland, U.S.A., +1 703-608-7599, of your decision to cancel this contract by a clear statement (e.g. a letter sent by post, fax or e-mail). You may use the attached model cancellation form, but it is not obligatory. You can also electronically fill in and submit a clear statement on our website, under "My Purchases" in "My Account". If you use this option, we will communicate to you an acknowledgement of receipt of such a cancellation on a durable medium (e.g. by e-mail) without delay.

To meet the cancellation deadline, it is sufficient for you to send your communication concerning your exercise of the right to cancel before the cancellation period has expired.

Effects of cancellation

If you cancel this contract, we will reimburse to you all payments received from you, including the costs of delivery (except for the supplementary costs arising if you chose a type of delivery other than the least expensive type of standard delivery offered by us).

We may make a deduction from the reimbursement for loss in value of any goods supplied, if the loss is the result of unnecessary handling by you.

We will make the reimbursement without undue delay, and not later than 14 days after the day on which we are informed about your decision to cancel with contract.

We will make the reimbursement using the same means of payment as you used for the initial transaction, unless you have expressly agreed otherwise; in any event, you will not incur any fees as a result of such reimbursement.

We may withhold reimbursement until we have received the goods back or you have supplied evidence of having sent back the goods, whichever is the earliest.

You shall send back the goods or hand them over to us or Dewey Books PTMD, 8040 Norwich Ct., 20677, Port Tobacco, Maryland, U.S.A., +1 703-608-7599, without undue delay and in any event not later than 14 days from the day on which you communicate your cancellation from this contract to us. The deadline is met if you send back the goods before the period of 14 days has expired. You will have to bear the direct cost of returning the goods. You are only liable for any diminished value of the goods resulting from the handling other than what is necessary to establish the nature, characteristics and functioning of the goods.

Exceptions to the right of cancellation

The right of cancellation does not apply to:

the delivery of newspapers, journals or magazines with the exception of subscription contracts; and
the supply of digital content which is not supplied on a tangible medium (e.g. on a CD or DVD) if you accepted when you placed your order that we could start to deliver it, and that you could not cancel it once delivery had started.

Model withdrawal form

(complete and return this form only if you wish to withdraw from the contract)

To: (Dewey Books PTMD, 8040 Norwich Ct, 20677, Port Tobacco, Maryland, U.S.A., +1 703-608-7599)

I/We (*) hereby give notice that I/We (*) withdraw from my/our (*) contract of sale of the following goods (*)/for the provision of the following goods (*)/for the provision of the following service (*),

Ordered on (*)/received on (*)

Name of consumer(s)

Address of consumer(s)

Signature of consumer(s) (only if this form is notified on paper)

Date

* Delete as appropriate.

Shipping Terms

Purchased items will be packaged and shipped promptly during Mon-Fri business hours US ET except for obserbed Postal holiday or Federal holiday. Packages are wrapped and secured in protective corregated paper. Dewey Books PTMD offers free tracking on items shipped domestic as well as internalional up to 3 lbs. The purchaser may apply and pay for package insurance upon checkout if desired. Shipping on ordered items is processed Mon-Fri business hours. Items ordered before noon US ET M-F will ship same business day M-F. Items ordered after noon US ET will ship next available business day M-F. Items ordered during the weekend will ship out Monday US ET business day. Returned items must be received in same condition and quaility as they were when shipped.

Shipping rates within U.S.A.

Shipping rates within U.S.A.
Order quantity	3 to 8 business days	1 to 3 business days
First item	� 4.13	� 6.00

Delivery times are set by sellers and vary by carrier and location. Orders passing through Customs may face delays and buyers are responsible for any associated duties or fees. Sellers may contact you regarding additional charges to cover any increased costs to ship your items.

Detailed Seller Information