Individualization: Instituitionalized Individualism and Its Social and Political Consequences (Published in association with Theory, Culture & Society) [Paperback]

Ulrich Beck (Author), Elisabeth Beck-Gernsheim (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0761961127 | ISBN-13: 978-0761961123 | Publication Date: February 15, 2002 | Edition: 1

Individualization argues that we are in the midst of a fundamental change in the nature of society and politics. This change hinges around two processes: globalization and individualization. The book demonstrates that individualization is a structural characteristic of highly differentiated societies, and does not imperil social cohesion, but actually makes it possible. Ulrich Beck and Elisabeth Beck-Gernsheim argue that it is vital to distinguish between the neo-liberal idea of the free-market individual and the concept of individualization. The result is the most complete discussion of individualization currently available, showing how individualization relates to basic social rights and also paid employment; and concluding that in

Editorial Reviews

Review

`Ulrich Beck's Risk Society, and indeed the theory of "reflexive modernization" is characterized by two theses: an environmental thesis and individualization thesis.... In Anglo-Saxon sociology the risk thesis has been enormously influential. The individualization thesis, for its part, has passed virtually ignored. That is the shortcoming that this book Individualization addressess.... In this single volume this thesis receives the exclusive attention of Ulrich Beck and Elisabeth Beck-Gernsheim. This book represents the other half of Beck's work. And this half today may be the most important half' - Scott Lash, from the Foreword

Product Details

• Paperback: 222 pages
• Publisher: Sage Publications Ltd; 1 edition (February 15, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0761961127
• ISBN-13: 978-0761961123
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,763,769 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars you thought you understood risk society, September 14, 2003

By 

Jeremy W. Hunsinger "buridan" (blacksburg, virginia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Individualization: Instituitionalized Individualism and Its Social and Political Consequences (Published in association with Theory, Culture & Society) (Paperback)

You thought you understood Beck's Risk Society, as most people do, but without reading this book, you can't understand it. in part this is because Risk Society has its complement in institutionalized individualism. To understand risk society, you need to understand institutionalized individualism, and with both theoretical concepts, supported by empirical evidence, then you can work on perfecting your questions.

In short, this book is a must read for anyone interested in questions of modernity and risk society, its implications and effects. Like most of his recent books, this is a collection of several essays united by a theme, but the theme is perhaps one of the most important ones to think about these days, as informationalism starts to push into new forms of institutionalization.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars recommendation, September 6, 2010

By 

José - See all my reviews

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