The Workless
Language: English
Published by Intellect, GB, 2026
- Hardcover
- New

Seller: Rarewaves.com USA, London, London, United KingdomRarewaves.com USA
AbeBooks seller since June 11, 2025
Condition: New
£ 125.17
Quantity: Over 20 available
Add to basketItem description from seller
This book critically analyses historical and contemporary discourses around worklessness, economic inactivity and the factors that contribute to people withdrawing from the conventional labour market. In analysing popular portrayals of 'the workless', the book draws heavily on the sociological theories of stigma and symbolic annihilation, and conceives of the contemporary narrative about the UK's 'crisis' in economic inactivity as the latest in a continuum of periodic moral panics about worklessness. A key argument is that neoliberal definitions of 'work' and 'worklessness' are too narrow, and deny - and render invisible - the importance of various forms of unpaid labour performed by many people classified as 'inactive', notably informal caregiving and volunteering. Methodologically, it combines analysis of historical and contemporary media and political narratives around 'worklessness' and factors that limit individuals' capacity for conventional paid work - from disability and long-term illness to caring responsibilities - with interviews with people who have lived experience of 'economic inactivity'. The scope of analysis encompasses critical discourse analysis of print and online newspaper articles from across the UK national and regional press; 'below-the-line' comments posted by audience-members beneath articles; and verbatim records of debates and speeches focusing on economic inactivity in the UK Parliament. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 14 individuals classified as economically inactive. These were subjected to thematic analysis.Contrasting popular narratives with the lived experiences of 'inactive' people, it questions the validity of dominant stereotypes and the wider efficacy of policies designed to address 'worklessness'.…
Seller Inventory # LU-9781835953181
- Title
- The Workless
- Author
- James Morrison
- Publisher
- Intellect, GB
- Publication year
- 2026
- Condition
- New
- Binding
- Hardback
- Language
- English
- ISBN 10
- 1835953182
- ISBN 13
- 9781835953181
- Item weight
- 538 grams
This book critically analyses historical and contemporary discourses around worklessness, economic inactivity and the factors that contribute to people withdrawing from the conventional labour market.
In analysing popular portrayals of 'the workless', the book draws heavily on the sociological theories of stigma and symbolic annihilation, and conceives of the contemporary narrative about the UK's 'crisis' in economic inactivity as the latest in a continuum of periodic moral panics about worklessness. A key argument is that neoliberal definitions of 'work' and 'worklessness' are too narrow, and deny - and render invisible - the importance of various forms of unpaid labour performed by many people classified as 'inactive', notably informal caregiving and volunteering.
Methodologically, it combines analysis of historical and contemporary media and political narratives around 'worklessness' and factors that limit individuals' capacity for conventional paid work - from disability and long-term illness to caring responsibilities - with interviews with people who have lived experience of 'economic inactivity'. The scope of analysis encompasses critical discourse analysis of print and online newspaper articles from across the UK national and regional press; 'below-the-line' comments posted by audience-members beneath articles; and verbatim records of debates and speeches focusing on economic inactivity in the UK Parliament. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 14 individuals classified as economically inactive. These were subjected to thematic analysis.
Contrasting popular narratives with the lived experiences of ‘inactive’ people, it questions the validity of dominant stereotypes and the wider efficacy of policies designed to address ‘worklessness’
"Synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
About the Author
James Morrison is associate professor in journalism studies at University of Stirling, a former national newspaper journalist, and a specialist in qualitative research into media representations and lived experiences of economic and intersectional disadvantage. He is the author of several monographs, including Scroungers and The Left Behind (Bloomsbury, 2019).
Contact: Division of Communications, Media and Culture, Faculty of Arts and Humanities, University of Stirling, Bridge of Allan, Stirling, FK9 4LA, UK.
"About the title" may belong to another edition of this title.
Rarewaves.com USA
London, London, United Kingdom
AbeBooks seller since June 11, 2025
Shipping rates from United Kingdom to U.S.A.
| Item | 9 to 14 business days | 9 to 14 business days |
|---|---|---|
| First item | £ 0.00 | £ 0.00 |
Payment methods
Seller's business information
RAREWAVES.COM LIMITED
Elsley Court, 20-22 Great Titchfield Street
London, United Kingdom W1W 8BE
Right of withdrawal
If you are a consumer you can withdraw from 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 withdrawal
Statutory right to withdraw
You have the right to withdraw from this contract within 14 days without giving any reason.
The withdrawal 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 last good or the last lot or piece.
To exercise the right of withdrawal, electronically fill in and submit a clear statement on our website, under "My Purchases" in "My Account". We will communicate to you an acknowledgement of receipt of such a withdrawal on a durable medium (e.g. by e-mail) without delay.
To meet the withdrawal deadline, it is sufficient for you to send your communication concerning your exercise of the right of withdrawal before the withdrawal period has expired.
Effects of withdrawal
If you withdraw from 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 withdraw from this 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 Rarewaves.com USA, Unit 144 The Lightbox, 111 Power Road, W4 5PY, London, London, United Kingdom, without undue delay and in any event not later than 14 days from the day on which you communicate your withdrawal 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 withdrawal
The right of withdrawal 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 withdraw once delivery had started.
Shipping terms
Please note that we do not offer Priority shipping to any country.
We currently do not ship to the below countries:
Russia
Belarus
Ukraine
Please do not attempt to place orders with any of these countries as a ship to address - they will be cancelled.