The Civil Sphere

by Jeffrey C. Alexander

What binds societies together and how can these social orders be structured in a fair way? Jeffrey C. Alexander's masterful work, The Civil Sphere , addresses this central paradox of modern life. Feelings for others--the solidarity that is ignored or underplayed by theories of power or self-interest--are at the heart of this novel inquiry into the meeting place between normative theories of what we think we should do and empirical studies of who we actually are. Solidarity, Alexander demonstrates, creates inclusive and exclusive social structures and shows how they can be repaired. It is not perfect, it is not absolute, and the horrors which occur in its lapses have been seen all too frequently in the forms of discrimination, genocide, and war. Despite its worldly flaws and contradictions, however, solidarity and the project of civil society remain our best the antidote to every divisive institution, every unfair distribution, every abusive and dominating hierarchy. This
grand, sweeping statement and rigorous empirical investigation is a major contribution to our thinking about the real but ideal world in which we all reside.

Genres: Sociology

793 pages, Hardcover

Published August 3, 2006

About the author

Jeffrey Charles Alexander is an American sociologist, and one of the world's leading social theorists. He is the founding figure in the school of cultural sociology he refers to as the "strong program"

Reviews

[Stephen]

Major theory on civil society.

[Qing Liu · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book I read last spring for cultural sociology independent study. One simple comment is that it heals me a bit in a crucial stage in my life and I have already highlighted it in several places.

[Mike Nyerges · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book's still all speculation at this point and should go back on my list of to-reads. But it was to answer the question of types and roles of civil discourse that shape the American social landscape, and perchance libraries. I am undoubtedly more into fiction now that I am older instead of when I read more nonfiction, maybe even twenty years ago.

[Arya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sometimes, it is difficult to understand how civil sphere could play an important role in changing the societal development vis a vis the role of the state. This book gives a clarity of how civil sphere is very well functioning in stimulating the social change in many societal setting.