A Theory of Catastrophe
eBook - ePub

A Theory of Catastrophe

  1. 158 pages
  2. English
  3. ePUB (mobile friendly)
  4. Available on iOS & Android
eBook - ePub

A Theory of Catastrophe

Book details
Table of contents
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About This Book

Sociology has developed theories of social change in the fields of evolution, conflict and modernization, viewing modern society as essentially unstable and conflict driven. However, it has not seriously studied catastrophe. A Theory of Catastrophe develops a sociology of catastrophes, comparing natural, social and political causes and consequences, and the social theories that might offer explanations.

A catastrophe is a general and systematic breakdown of social and political institutions resulting, among other things, in what we could call a catastrophe consciousness.

The Greek 'cata-strophe' formed the conclusion to a dramatic sequence of strophes. The cata-strophe was the final act of a drama, namely its denouement. Catastrophic denouements are without hope: genocides, military occupations, plagues, famines and earthquakes. A Theory of Catastrophe analyzes Pompeii, the Black Death, colonial genocide in North America, WWI and the Spanish Flu, and Nazi Germany and finally this century: terrorism, new wars, climate change and pandemics.

As a study of sociological theory, Bryan Turner discusses Spengler's Decline of the West, Marxism as a theory of catastrophic capitalism, messianic movements, Weber on modernity, and risk society. He concludes by comparing optimism and pessimism, and the idea of inter-generational justice.

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Information

Publisher
De Gruyter
Year
2023
ISBN
9783110772449
Edition
1
Topic
Ciencias sociales
Subtopic
Estudios de desarrollo global

Table of contents

  1. Title Page
  2. Copyright
  3. Contents
  4. Chapter 1 Introduction: Disasters, Crises, and Catastrophes
  5. Chapter 2 Risk Society and Liquid Modernity
  6. Chapter 3 Enlightenment and Catastrophe
  7. Chapter 4 Plagues, Famines and Population
  8. Chapter 5 Colonial Catastrophes and Genocide
  9. Chapter 6 War: The Cascade of Catastrophes
  10. Chapter 7 The Economics of Catastrophe
  11. Chapter 8 Catastrophe and Utopian Hope
  12. Index