Theories of the information society
By: Frank Webster.
Edition: 2nd ed.
Series: The international library of sociology
Publisher: Routledge
Published: 2003
Place of publication: London; New York
Language: eng
Number of pages: 304
Subjects: Communication -- Social aspects; Communication -- Technological innovations; Information society; Information technology; Information policy
Description: "Popular opinion suggests that information has become a distinguishing feature of the modern world. Where once economies were built on industry and conquest, we are now instead said to be part of a global information economy.

In the first edition of Theories of the Information Society Frank Webster set out to make sense of the information explosion, taking a sceptical look at what thinkers mean when they refer to the information society, and critically examining all the major post-war theories and approaches to informational development.

In this new and thoroughly revised edition the author brings his study right up to date both with new theoretical work and with social and technological changes - such as the rapid growth of the Internet and accelerated globalisation - and reassesses the work of key theorists in light of these changes." "This book will be essential reading for students of contemporary social theory and anybody interested in social and technological change in the post-war era."--BOOK JACKET.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. [274]-298) and index.
Table of contents: title: The idea of an information society; title: The information society as post-industrialism : Daniel Bell; title: Information, restructuring and globalisation; title: Information capitalism : Manuel Castells; title: Information and advanced capitalism : Herbert Schiller; title: Information management and manipulation : Jürgen Habermas and the concept of the public sphere; title: Information, reflexivity and surveillance : Anthony Giddens; title: Information, postmodernism and postmodernity; title: Conclusion : is there an information society?