| Description |
vi, 257 pages ; 24 cm |
| Series |
International library of sociology |
|
International library of sociology.
|
| Contents |
1. Introduction -- 2. Information and the Idea of an Information Society -- 3. The Information Society as Post-Industrialism: Daniel Bell -- 4. Information, the Nation State and Surveillance: Anthony Giddens -- 5. Information and Advanced Capitalism: Herbert Schiller -- 6. Information Management and Manipulation: Jurgen Habermas and the Decline of the Public Sphere -- 7. Information and Restructuring: Beyond Fordism? -- 8. Information and Postmodernism -- 9. Information and Urban Change: Manuel Castells -- 10. Conclusion |
| Summary |
The author concludes that, while there has undoubtedly been an information explosion, it is premature to conceive of an information society. We should rather emphasise the 'informatisation' of established relations |
|
This book sets out to examine and assess the variety of theories of information in society currently available. Frank Webster sceptically examines what thinkers mean by an information society, and looks closely at different approaches to informational developments. He provides critical commentaries on the major postwar theories: Daniel Bell's ideas on a post-industrial information society, Anthony Giddens' thoughts on the growth of surveillance and the expansion of the nation state, Herbert Schiller's insistence that information both expresses and consolidates the interests of corporate capitalism: Jurgen Habermas' account of the diminishment of the public sphere; Jean Baudrillard's thoughts on postmodernism and information, and Manuel Castells' depiction of the 'informational city'. Each theorisation is subjected to close scrutiny and is tested against empirical evidence to assess its worth |
| Analysis |
Society Effects of Information technology |
|
Society Effects of Information technology |
| Bibliography |
Includes bibliographical references (pages 225-247) and index |
| Notes |
Also available electronically |
| Subject |
Communication -- Social aspects.
|
|
Communication -- Technological innovations.
|
|
Information policy.
|
|
Information society.
|
|
Information technology.
|
| LC no. |
94049029 |
| ISBN |
0415105730 |
|
0415105749 |
|
