'Stehr's penetration of theoretical and empirical claims
from various quarters is thorough. He succeeds very well in
tracing both the conceptual development within the
social
sciences and current compilations of data.'
Reiner Grundmann, Aston Business School, Aston
University
'Stehr's book is an engaging and carefully supported myth
and disbelief-demolishing exercise, based on important new
formulations of the challenges of society today. It is both
analytically and empirically sound and compelling ... This
very important piece of scholarly
work connects
economic
changes with work, consumption, symbolism and meanings, and
growth/environment ... [It] looks with care and passionate
but unbiased scholarship at possibilities for action and,
at the same time, how those possibilities for action are
being limited.'
Susan McDaniel, Department of Sociology, University of
Alberta
Contents
- Introduction: The Social Sciences, the Economy, and
Politics
- Economic Activities and Social Action
- Knowledge as a Productive Factor
- Knowledge Societies
- The Modern Economy
- The Future of Work?
- The Changing Economic Structure of Society
- Globalization, Information, and Knowledge
- Economy and Ecology
- Prospects: The Fragility of the Future