Sex, Money and Power: The Transformation of Collective Life / Edition 1

by Bill Jordan

Overview

Intimacy, choice, movement – these are the elements which make up the desirable lifestyle in the mainstream of affluent societies. They also undermine traditional forms of power and control. And they create a web of connections between individuals all over the world, which promises to be more flexible and less restrictive than any which have existed before.

Bill Jordan sets out to explain the particular attractions of this vision of freedom, equality and harmony. He traces its appeal to a formula for human institutions which emerged with the birth of the social sciences. Sex, money and political authority glued together these changing accounts of the collective world.

We are still seduced by the idea that personal autonomy and the moral sovereignty of individuals can make up a well-functioning social order. But, he argues, our present global institutions shut out the majority of the world’s population, who are left to rely on quite different bonds, of blood, soil and faith.

This book will be essential reading for students and scholars of sociology and social policy, as well as of the humanities in general. It will also be compelling reading for anyone who is interested in human relationships and modern society.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780745633510
Publisher:	Polity Press
Publication date:	10/08/2004
Pages:	192
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Bill Jordan is Professor of Social Policy at Huddersfield University and Reader in Social Policy at London Metropolitan University.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements.

Introduction.

Chapter One: Inside the Web.

Chapter Two: Intimate Connections.

Chapter Three: Sex and Self-Improvement.

Chapter Four: The Nature of Change.

Chapter Five: One the Move: Mobility as the Basis for Freedom.

Chapter Six: Keep Out: Organizations, Boundaries and Exclusions.

Chapter Seven: Organizations and Power.

Chapter Eight: Power and World Poverty.

Chapter Nine: Power, Passion and Loyalty.

Chapter Ten: Connections and Conclusions.

Notes.

Index.

Editorial Reviews

"Written in an accessible style, the book weaves personal narrativeabout the author's 'gypsy scholar' life with social theorizing. Itproduces an interesting account of shifting social bonds andtensions between private and public experiences and events. Thebook draws on a wide range of resources, including sociologicalresearch, political and economic events and theories, and popularcultural materials, including film, television and novels."

Sociology; Lisa Smyth, Queens University Belfast

"Sex Money and Power is a wonderfully written reflection on themeaning of our individual lives and their relation to a widersocial context. In an unconvential but poignant way, it usesautobiography, social theory and historical narrative to confrontthe great gods of our time, and the processes that bind us to them.A humorous, quirky subtle, insightful and provocative look atquestions that should be taxing us all, this work connects thepersonal and the social in a flowing and compellinganalysis."

Saladin Meckled-Garcia, University College London

From the Publisher