Bridging a classical locus of social theory, Mackert produces a new and robust theory of social closure that contributes to the growth of a genuinely global theory. The book breaks solid ground for our understanding of the effects of capitalism and the resilience of colonial formations. Mackert's ability to connect empirical and historical analysis with refined and very clear conceptual and theoretical steps is prodigious and unparalleled.

Benoit Challand, New School for Social Research

Jürgen Mackert's On Social Closure is a masterful recovery and reworking of some classical themes introduced by Max Weber about how group power is manifested through processes of social closure. The book takes us far beyond earlier work, most notably that of Frank Parkin in the late 1970s, to consider how closure operates in the global context. A major contribution to contemporary social theory.

Jeff Manza, New York University

On Social Closure is driven by two dissatisfactions namely the limitations of existing theories of closure from Max Weber to contemporary sociology and the neglect of the Global South in the sociological obsession with western modernity. Mackert comprehensively corrects both limitations by developing a general theory of closure, consisting of exclusion, exploitation, and elimination in which social life as such is collective struggle.

Bryan S. Turner, Australian Catholic University

On Social Closure reinvigorates the idea of social closure as a basic sociological concept for understanding the strategies powerful groups use to improve their life chances at the expense of the less powerful. Jürgen Mackert provides sociological tools for analysing three critical forms of closure in the world today: exclusion in the context of neoliberalism; exploitation within global capitalism; and elimination in the ongoing legacy of settler colonialism, thereby transcending Eurocentric analyses. Mackert puts forward a mechanism-based explanatory approach identifies two critical social mechanisms that operate in various kinds of social closure struggles. The first explains how human beings, social groups, or communities are denied access to resources, rights, or critical networks, while the second explains how the powerful exert control that leaves the less powerful vulnerable and unable to fight back. Through a critical reconsideration and revision of existing concepts and by bringing in new ones, Jürgen Mackert develops a novel theoretical approach to social closure.
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Acknowledgments Introduction: A New Approach to Social Closure Part I: The Misguided Path of the "Theory of Social Closure" Chapter 1: A Critical Discussion of The Theory of Social Closure Chapter 2: Frank Parkin: Social Closure as Exclusion and Usurpation Chapter 3: Raymond Murphy: Rules, Structures, and Forms of Social Closure Chapter 4: Critical Shortcomings of the Theory of Social Closure Chapter 5: Going Beyond the Theory of Social Closure Part II: Basic Terms, Concepts and Methodology for Closure Theory Chapter 6: Reconsidering, Problematizing, and Introducing Critical Concepts for Closure Theory Reconsidering Max Weber's Approach Chapter 7: Max Weber's Critical Basic Terms for Theorizing Social Closure Reconsidered Chapter 8: Max Weber's Closure Analyses: Three Contexts Chapter 9: Beyond Max Weber: Towards a New Idea of Social Closure New Concepts for Closure Theory Chapter 10: "Group Action" and "Acting in Solidarity" Chapter 11: Power in Closure Analysis Chapter 12: "Life Chances/Chances of Survival": The Real Goal of Closure Struggles Chapter 13: Discussion Part III: Theorizing Social Closure Chapter 14: A New Approach to Social Closure Conceptualization Chapter 15: Three Forms of Social Closure Chapter 16: Power and Social Closure Chapter 17: A New Concept of "Life-Chances/Chances of Survival" in the Opportunity Structure Chapter 18: Reorganizing Relations of Social Closure: The Two Critical Mechanisms "Denial of Access" and "Intervention into Community Closure" Chapter 19: A New Concept of Social Closure Typology Chapter 20: A Typology of Social Closure Explanation Chapter 21: Towards an Explanation of Social Closure Chapter 22: Explaining Social Closure Chapter 23: The Explanatory Logics of Social Closure Conclusion: Social Closure and the Global Struggle for Life Chances/Chances of Survival References Index
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"Bridging a classical locus of social theory, Mackert produces a new and robust theory of social closure that contributes to the growth of a genuinely global theory. The book breaks solid ground for our understanding of the effects of capitalism and the resilience of colonial formations. Mackert's ability to connect empirical and historical analysis with refined and very clear conceptual and theoretical steps is prodigious and unparalleled." --Benoit Challand, New School for Social Research "Jürgen Mackert's On Social Closure is a masterful recovery and reworking of some classical themes introduced by Max Weber about how group power is manifested through processes of social closure. The book takes us far beyond earlier work, most notably that of Frank Parkin in the late 1970s, to consider how closure operates in the global context. A major contribution to contemporary social theory." --Jeff Manza, New York University "On Social Closure is driven by two dissatisfactions namely the limitations of existing theories of closure from Max Weber to contemporary sociology and the neglect of the Global South in the sociological obsession with western modernity. Mackert comprehensively corrects both limitations by developing a general theory of closure, consisting of exclusion, exploitation, and elimination in which social life as such is collective struggle." --Bryan S. Turner, Australian Catholic University
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Jürgen Mackert is Professor of Sociology at the University of Potsdam, Germany. He was a temporary professor for the 'structure of modern societies' at the University of Erfurt (2004/05) and a visiting professor of political sociology at Humboldt University (2008/09).
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Selling point: Offers a new theory of closure that goes beyond previous efforts to develop such an approach Selling point: Provides a tool to analyze all forms of social closure in today's world Selling point: Uses an explanatory approach for phenomena of social closure in the contexts of neoliberalism, global capitalism/slavery, and settler colonialism Selling point: Broadens understanding for processes that link powerful strategies in the Global North with consequences in the Global South in a historical perspective
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Produktdetaljer

ISBN
9780197781685
Publisert
2025
Utgiver
Vendor
Oxford University Press Inc
Vekt
703 gr
Høyde
238 mm
Bredde
167 mm
Dybde
28 mm
Aldersnivå
P, 06
Språk
Product language
Engelsk
Format
Product format
Innbundet
Antall sider
384

Forfatter

Biographical note

Jürgen Mackert is Professor of Sociology at the University of Potsdam, Germany. He was a temporary professor for the 'structure of modern societies' at the University of Erfurt (2004/05) and a visiting professor of political sociology at Humboldt University (2008/09).