Theories of the Information Society (The International Library of Sociology) [Paperback]

Professor Frank Webster (Author), Frank Webster (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0415105749 | ISBN-13: 978-0415105743 | Publication Date: November 9, 1995 | Edition: 1

Information has come to be regarded as a symbol of the age in which we live. Talk nowadays is of an `information technology' revolution, even of an `information society'. But just what does this mean? In Theories of the Information Society Frank Webster sets out to make sense of the information explosion. He examines and assesses a variety of `images of the information society', and takes a sceptical look at what thinkers mean when they do refer to an `information society'. He looks closely at different approaches to informational developments, and provides critical commentaries on all the major post-war theories.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Frank Webster is Professor of Sociology at Oxford Brookes University.

Product Details

• Paperback: 264 pages
• Publisher: Routledge; 1 edition (November 9, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0415105749
• ISBN-13: 978-0415105743
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 5.8 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,361,772 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A fabulously straightforward review of a very complex issue., October 24, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Theories of the Information Society (The International Library of Sociology) (Paperback)

An absolute must for anyone interested in the 'Information Society'. Webster tackles the fundamental questions other authors neatly sidestep; primarily, what is meant by the term 'Information Society', what foundation, if any, there is for the widespread acceptance of this 'new society' and an indepth look at alternative theories which stress continuity as opposed to revolution!

On the whole a well balanced, well written, thoughtful account of a very challenging concept.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars must-read critical intro to information society theories, November 23, 2005

By 

S. McIntosh "smac55" (New York, NY USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Theories of the Information Society (International Library of Sociology) (Paperback)

This book is a college graduate-level (perhaps precocious upper undergrad) critical introduction to various information society theories. The author admits early on that he does not believe we have entered a new "information age" even as he concedes various points--sometimes quite important points--that there have been big changes in society because of changes in technology, networks, and information flows. As a result of his stated biases, he sometimes comes across as more critical of those he doesn't agree with (Bell, Castells, etc.) than those he does (Giddens, etc.), although in each chapter he does try to show a critical perspective of each scholars' theories.

There are two main strengths to this book. First, it gives a very nice "lay of the land" overview of many important social theorists regarding the information age, and thus is an excellent launching point for students who want to explore theorists further. Second, his skepticism regarding theories of information society should be welcomed even by those who do firmly believe that we are in an information society. He raises many interesting points that will give those people who largely buy into the information society beliefs (as I did moreso before reading this book) cause to rethink some assumptions, which is what scholarly activity is supposed to be about.

7 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A sociologist looks at myths of the information revolution, September 14, 2003

By 

Govindan Nair (Vienna, VA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Theories of the Information Society (International Library of Sociology) (Paperback)

This book by an Oxford sociologist may bring tears, if not frustration, to Internet geeks, and information policy wonks alike. Be forewarned!

With so much hyperbole surrounding the computing revolution, the Internet, and the explosion in communications, it is easy to forget that most of us simply assume that a new information either now exists or is emerging. The author of this book challenges this assumption by looking at half a dozen views of the so-called information society advanced by different sociologists in recent decades. Webster in particular seems to distinguish the positions of classical socilogists like Schiller, Giddens, and Habermas from the so-called post-modern or post-industrial writings on information society of Daniel Bell, Manuel Castells, or Mark Poster.By critically examining these views, the author concludes that there is much more information available than ever before and that it plays a pivotal role in everything we do from leisure activities to business transactions to government activities, as shown by the various technical measures of information society which various writers have proposed. However, and this is the clincher, there does not appear to be any consensus of whether the information society exists or exactly what it is supposed to look like as different from previous society.

Is Weber's point and his scepticism simply semantic sophistry or a substantively insightful analysis? Depending on your disposition and your appreciation of sociological literature, this is a question you will have to decide in you choose to follow the argument in this book. The author is hardly naive about the realities of technological change, but deeply questions the technological determinism which he sees many writers and thinkers implicitly assuming is shaping contemporary social relations. He prefers to think of present developments as an extension of the past, but with a greater informatization of social relations.

I suspect that the author's argument is subtle, and possibly valid, but he may have done well to cast his analysis in broader terms than those of an insider debate among sociologists.