Health and Social Change: A Critical Theory - Softcover

Scambler, Graham; Scambler

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0335204791 ISBN 13: 9780335204793

Publisher: Open University Press, 2002

Synopsis

* How have health, illness and medicine been affected by social change?
* What are the implications of disorganized capitalism, neo-liberalism and the 'Third Way' for health and healing?
* How important are class, gender and ethnic relations for health care reforms and the distribution of health?

Health and Social Change offers a clear and incisive examination of the social changes that have affected capitalist societies, and their ramifications for health and for systems of healing. It reviews the major paradigms of medical sociology and considers theories of the 'postmodern turn'. The author draws on critical realism and critical theory to demonstrate the significance of the shift from organized to disorganized capitalism for health care reform, in particular in Britain and the USA; for the present widening of health inequalities; and for people's use of popular, folk and professional forms of healing. He goes on to examine the role of a critical sociology and its necessary relationship to civil society and deliberative democracy. The result is an engaging and thought-provoking text for students, researchers and professionals interested in health and social change.

About this title

About the Author:

Graham Scambler is Professor of Medical Sociology and Director of the Centre for Medical Sociology, Social Theory and Health at University College London. He has published widely in medical sociology and social theory, recent works including: Modernity, Medicine and Health (co-editor, 1998, Routledge) and Habermas, Critical Theory and Health (editor, 2001, Routledge).

About this edition

• Publisher: Open University Press
• Publication date: 2002
• ISBN 10: 0335204791
• ISBN 13: 9780335204793
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 192