Theories of the information society
By: Frank Webster.
Series: The international library of sociology
Publisher: Routledge
Published: 1995
Place of publication: London and New York
Language: eng
Number of pages: 257
Subjects: Communication -- Social aspects; Communication -- Technological innovations; Information society; Information technology; Information policy
Description: This book sets out to examine and assess the variety of theories of information in society currently available. Frank Webster sceptically examines what thinkers mean by an information society, and looks closely at different approaches to informational developments. He provides critical commentaries on the major postwar theories: Daniel Bell's ideas on a post-industrial information society, Anthony Giddens' thoughts on the growth of surveillance and the expansion of the nation state, Herbert Schiller's insistence that information both expresses and consolidates the interests of corporate capitalism: Jurgen Habermas' account of the diminishment of the public sphere; Jean Baudrillard's thoughts on postmodernism and information, and Manuel Castells' depiction of the 'informational city'. Each theorisation is subjected to close scrutiny and is tested against empirical evidence to assess its worth.

The author concludes that, while there has undoubtedly been an information explosion, it is premature to conceive of an information society. We should rather emphasise the 'informatisation' of established relations.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. 225-247) and index.