A key component of social life, discourse mediates the processes of class formation and social conflict. Drawing on dialogic theory and building on the work of E. P. Thompson, Marc W. Steinberg argues for the importance of incorporating discursive analysis into the historical reconstruction of class experience. Amending models of collective action, he offers new insights on how discourse shapes the dynamics of popular protest. To support his thesis, he presents studies of two English trade groups in the 1820s: cotton spinners from Lancashire factory towns and London silk weavers. For each case, Steinberg closely examines the labor process, industrial organization, social life, community politics, discursive struggles, and collective actions. By describing how workers shared experiences of exploitation and oppression in their daily lives, he shows how discourses of contention were products of struggle and how they framed possibilities for collective action. Embracing work in literary theory, sociocultural psychology, and cultural studies, Fighting Words claims a middle ground between postmodern and materialist analyses.
Average Rating
Informations
About the author
Marc W. Steinberg
Author
Fighting Words
by Marc W. Steinberg
Books Like Fighting Words
If you're looking for books similar to Fighting Words, here are some recommendations based on themes, tone, and narrative style.
The Making of the English Working Class
E. P. Thompson
A groundbreaking historical analysis of working-class formation in England during the Industrial Revolution. Thompson explores how workers developed class consciousness through social experiences and cultural practices. The book examines labor movements, social struggles, and the complex ways workers understood their collective identity. It provides deep insights into the social and cultural dimensions of class formation. A seminal work that influenced Steinberg's approach to understanding labor history.
Labor and Monopoly Capital
Harry Braverman
A critical examination of labor processes and workplace dynamics in modern capitalism. Braverman explores how industrial organization transforms work and worker experiences. The book analyzes the degradation of labor through technological and managerial strategies. It provides a comprehensive critique of workplace hierarchies and their impact on workers' lives. A foundational text for understanding labor dynamics and class struggle.
Language and Power
Pierre Bourdieu
A sophisticated analysis of how language operates as a social mechanism of power. Bourdieu explores the ways linguistic practices reflect and reproduce social hierarchies. The book examines how discourse shapes social interactions and collective experiences. It provides theoretical tools for understanding the relationship between language and social structures. A crucial text for analyzing discursive struggles.
Class Struggle and Social Transformation
Erik Olin Wright
A theoretical exploration of class dynamics and social change. Wright analyzes the complex mechanisms of class formation and collective action. The book provides sophisticated frameworks for understanding social transformations. It examines how workers develop collective consciousness and challenge existing structures. A comprehensive sociological analysis.
Discourse and Social Change
Norman Fairclough
An influential study of how language shapes social dynamics and power relationships. Fairclough analyzes the intricate connections between discourse, social structures, and historical transformations. The book provides critical tools for understanding how language mediates social conflicts and collective experiences. It explores how discourse can both reflect and transform social realities. A key text for understanding the linguistic dimensions of social movements.
Voices of the People
Gareth Stedman Jones
A comprehensive examination of working-class political and social experiences. Jones explores how workers developed political consciousness through collective discourse. The book analyzes the formation of political identities and social movements. It provides detailed insights into workers' linguistic and cultural practices. A rich study of working-class political formations.
Language, Ideology, and Power
Terry Eagleton
A critical exploration of how language mediates social power relations. Eagleton examines the complex interactions between linguistic practices and ideological structures. The book provides theoretical tools for understanding discourse as a site of struggle. It offers insights into how language shapes social experiences. A sophisticated analysis of linguistic power.
Workers and Resistance
Beverly Silver
A global study of worker movements and collective resistance strategies. Silver explores how workers challenge economic and social inequalities. The book provides comparative insights into labor struggles across different contexts. It examines the dynamics of worker mobilization and social transformation. A comprehensive analysis of global labor movements.
Workers' Worlds
Patrick Joyce
An exploration of working-class culture and social experiences in industrial England. Joyce examines how workers created meaning and identity through collective practices. The book investigates community formations, social networks, and cultural expressions. It provides rich ethnographic insights into workers' lived experiences. A comprehensive study of working-class social dynamics.
Power and Protest
Sidney Tarrow
An analysis of social movements and collective action strategies. Tarrow explores how social groups mobilize and challenge existing power structures. The book examines the dynamics of protest and social transformation. It provides theoretical frameworks for understanding collective resistance. A comprehensive study of social movement dynamics.
Discourse and Social Theory
John B. Thompson
An examination of how discourse shapes social experiences and power relations. Thompson explores the complex interactions between language, culture, and social structures. The book provides theoretical tools for understanding communicative practices. It offers insights into how discourse mediates social conflicts. A sophisticated analysis of linguistic and social dynamics.
Textile Workers and Industrial Capitalism
Michael Savage
An in-depth study of textile workers during the Industrial Revolution. Savage explores the social and economic transformations experienced by workers in textile industries. The book examines how technological changes reshaped labor processes and worker communities. It provides detailed insights into the lived experiences of industrial workers. A nuanced analysis of class formation in industrial contexts.
Industrial Ethnography
David Collinson
A detailed study of workplace cultures and worker experiences. Collinson explores how workers negotiate power relations and create collective identities. The book provides ethnographic insights into industrial workplace dynamics. It examines the complex interactions between workers, management, and organizational structures. A nuanced analysis of workplace social processes.
The Culture of Everyday Life
Ben Fine
An analysis of how daily practices and cultural experiences shape social identities. Fine explores the complex interactions between economic structures and cultural formations. The book examines how workers understand and negotiate their social experiences. It provides a nuanced approach to understanding collective consciousness. A sophisticated study of cultural dynamics.
No account connected — sign in to comment.