1. Key sociological Thinkers
Karen McArdle

2. Wilkinson and Pickett We wish to eat less rather than more;
Rise of anxiety and depression;
As countries get richer, average living standards do less and less for health;
So too happiness has levelled off;

3. How can we improve quality of life?
“We are affected very differently by the income differences within our own society from the way we are affected by the differences between one rich society and another.” (11)
Within countries death rates are closely and systematically related to income

4. Explanations
What matters in rich countries may not be your actual income level and living standards but how you compare with other people in the same society. Where you come in the pecking order matters.

5. Anthony Giddens Post-industrial society
- Decline in employment in agriculture compared to all other occupations;
- Service sector is ‘blue collar’ as well as white collar;
- service jobs include producing a product;
- ICT is integrated within manufacturing rather than replacing it.
Postmodernity

6. Zygmunt Bauman Movement from a solid to a liquid phase;
Divorce of power and politics;
Withdrawal of state-endorsed insurance;
Collapse of long term thinking, planning;
Constantly changing circumstances – free choosers
AND
Short term communities`

7. References
Bauman, Z. (2007) Liquid Times: Living in an Age of Uncertainty. Polity Press, Cambridge
Giddens, A. (1993) Sociology. Polity Press, Cambridge
Wilkinson, R. & Pickett, K. (2010) The Spirit Level: Why equality is better for everyone. Penguin Books, London

8. POSTMODERNISM

9. Aspects of Postmodernism
Emphasis on narrative
Living with and managing complexity
Community orientation

10. Points of Tension Local action and collective action Structuralism
Local knowledge and positivism
Emancipatory dimension

11. Social Capital Affirmation of theoretical base
Recognise and value boundary work
Release from Marxist discourses

12. The link to empowerment
Foucault and Power
The link to empowerment

13. Power
Power operates in many different kinds of relationships. It is always already there.
We are never outside it.
Power is not just about what can be done but also about what can be said and thought
Power is sometimes an opportunity ot be successful or loved.
Discourse is important (e.g Australian Christians)

14. Discourse of Normality
Produces the abnormal
E.g. Psychology, educational psychology, doctor discourses.

15. Power which subjugates
Is about a double bind.
Empowerment, self esteem and hopes and desires are artefacts of power.
Power is a product of the state but also of our thinking.

16. So what does this mean Foucault does not have a solution; BUT
We need a set of practices through which we self examine and examine the social order.
He calls it an active process of becoming.
What does this mean for us?

17. Derrida
Deconstruction
Turning things on their head.

18. Bourdieu
Habitus
Field