SOC232H5 Chapter Notes -Political Corruption, Manuel Castells, New Economy
Document Summary
Materials for an explanatory theory of the network society- manuel castells. Network society is a specific form of social structure identified by empirical research as being characteristic of the information age. Social structure- organizational arrangements of humans in relationships of production/consumption, experience, and power, as expressed in meaningful interaction framed by culture. Information age- historical period in which human societies perform their activities in technological paradigm constituted around information communication technologies and genetic engineering. Theory is a research tool- not end product of research. Prevalence of information networking as organization form of dominant activities. Human societies made from conflictive interaction between humans organized in and around given social structure. Social structure formed by interplay between relationships of production/consumption; relationships of power. Meaning constantly produced and reproduced through symbolic interaction between actors framed by social structure and acting to change/reproduce it. Meaning results from symbolic interaction between brains which are socially and ecologically constrained, and biologically and culturally able of innovation.
