Written by: rhbaker275 on November 1, 2013

At the outset of his book, “Contemporary Social Theory: An Introduction,”[1] Anthony Elliott indicates that he will cover the spectrum of social concepts (of which he list thirteen to name a few) and the “significant assessments of society – of the complex ways in which we live” (p.8).   I could relate to Elliott’s story-line as he introduced the present state of the global social order. His character, Natalie, attempted to grasp the social change taking place. Somewhat overwhelmed by the fast pace of living and the diverse socio/political concepts swirling about, she experiences both consternation and awe; somehow, I perceived she was comfortable and enjoyed the world in which she lived. Elliott, however, has her conceive of her world as if “the entire globe is in a ‘state of emergency’” (p.7).

I must acknowledge, in my “real” world, I sense the stress, anxiety, and sometimes fear of what is going on around me. I once felt comfortable in the social environment in which I live; it seemed that entering the twenty-first century, progress toward equality and unity was being achieved in the social order and the political scene allowed for differences but there was always a balance achieved through compromise and common goals. This past decade, however, has resulted in great upheaval in my world. I don’t know where we are headed. Reading Elliott, some chapters in detail, others just a perusal, has helped to make some sense out of why we do what we do in our socio/political movement. My reflections in this essay only scratch the surface of the import of Elliott’s attempt to bring clarity to the world around me.

Basic Social Theory – the inherent, embedded way that most people think about practical social living. It is, says Elliott, the way most people determine the quality of life;how most people orient themselves to others and the wider world (p.8-9). “The quality of life is determined by a person’s basic social theory.”  We might define “basic social theory” as “implicit” meaning implied and understood intrinsically with explicit (in practice) reference or definition; it is social and societal concepts embedded in one’s thinking that are unconsciously believed or accepted without thought. Perhaps the limit of the historicity of Elliott’s book is what makes social theory passable. Elliott accomplishes this by limiting the study to “contemporary social theory” and in addition the sturdy is not meant to be comprehensive even of contemporary thought but an “introduction.”

This reminds me of the fact that all people who ask questions about God or the deeper meaning of life, necessarily, are theologians. In like manner, the simple reality that all people live in some social context; this means we do have some social theory of how we do life; it is embedded in daily living without question and for the most part, we fail to consider the implications of basic social theory.

One of the immediate perceptions, perhaps at this point foremost impression on me personally, is the realization that the conceived and “lived out” social theory impacts the quality of life; it “plays a [significant] role in facilitating [my] social relations” (p.10). This concept provides an encouragement to pursue a deeper understanding of the theory of how we live in society and how one might change social practices and relationships by criticizing the embedded concepts and understand more clearly the options (theories) available in social practice. Elliott personalizes social theory: “How useful do you find the idea that all social actors possess ‘practical sociologies’? How would you describe your own ‘basic social theory’ on life?”

Elliott delineates five key themes that are pursued throughout the book. For someone who has not studied social theory and for that matter social praxis, the key themes are both informative and challenging. They are informative because the themes present a very structured approach to learning social theory. It is easy to have an affinity with the themes simply because we recognize that the concepts are significant in the basic social theory that we all incorporate into “natural” living. The challenge arises from the fact that there is great diversity in social theory and to understand it, one must grasp the historical context as exhibited through a large number of social theorists. Elliot acknowledges this challenge in the preface to the book when he says, “There are few areas of academic enquiry as diverse, multidisciplinary and politically important as social theory.”

Key themes throughout the book:

1. …the relation between the individual and society, or between human action and social structure.
2. …the degree of consensus or conflict in modern societies.
3. …change, or social transformation.
4. …  gender issues. It is engaging “the social, political, psychological and cultural inequalities between men and women” (p.14)
5. … the relation between the social and the emotional, between our public and private worlds.

Elliott presents these themes in the context of the universal experience taking place in the philosophical transition (postmodernity) and the changing world community (globalization). In a postmodern era, the world is connected in different and diverse networks. The place of image, the visual, has changed the way in which societies relate and communicate. The expanding presence of the electronic image has created an instant message, both verbal and visible, that requires a huge adjustment to understanding and accepting culture. There are different definitions and social theories concerning globalization, but it is not possible to deny the impact of globalization as there have been changes in every aspect of both local and world culture.

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rhbaker275