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The crisis of 'identity' in high modernity.
- Source :
-
British Journal of Sociology . Mar2002, Vol. 53 Issue 1, p1-18. 18p. - Publication Year :
- 2002
-
Abstract
- The concept of 'identity' is central to much contemporary sociology, reflecting a crisis that manifests itself in two ways. Firstly, there is a view that identity is both vital <em>and</em> problematic in this period of high modernity. Secondly, while this awareness is reflected in sociology, its accounts of identity are inconsistent, under-theorized and incapable of bearing the analytical load required. As a result, there is an inherent contradiction between a valuing of identity as so fundamental as to be crucial to personal well-being, and a theorization of 'identity' that sees it as something constructed, fluid, multiple, impermanent and fragmentary. The contemporary crisis of identity thus expresses itself as both a crisis of society, and a crisis of theory. This paper explores the diverse ways in which 'identity' is deployed before turning to case-studies of its use by Anthony Giddens and Manuel Castells. This strategy demonstrates the widespread and diverse concern with identity before exploring how problematic it has become, even in the work of two of the world's leading sociologists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 00071315
- Volume :
- 53
- Issue :
- 1
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- British Journal of Sociology
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 6347150
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1080/00071310120109302