Discourse (Concepts in the Social Sciences) by Howarth, David published by Open University Press

by David R. Howarth

* What do we mean by discourse?* What are the different conceptions of discourse and methods of discourse analysis in the contemporary social sciences?* How can this concept help to clarify key theoretical problems and illuminate empirical cases?The concept of discourse provokes considerable debate and is understood in a variety of ways in the contemporary social sciences. This text presents a comprehensive overview of the different conceptions and methods of discourse analysis, while setting out the traditions of thinking in which these conceptions have emerged. It surveys structuralist, post-structuralist and post-Marxist theory, and the author sets out a fresh approach to discourse analysis, drawing principally on the writings of Saussure, Levi-Strauss, Gramsci, Althusser, Foucault, Derrida, Laclau and Mouffe. He evaluates a number of pertinent criticisms of this approach, and explores ways in which discourse analysis can assist our understanding of identity formation, hegemony, and the relationship between structure and agency. This concise and engaging text provides a stimulating introduction to the concept of discourse for students and researchers across the social sciences.

Genres: Philosophy, Nonfiction, Theory

Paperback

First published January 1, 2000

Reviews

[Placuszekzmango · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dobre wprowadzenie do teorii i historii dyskursu, aczkolwiek dla mnie, osoby, która stricte nie miała do czynienia z akademickim wymiarem literatury specjalistycznej, pozycja nie była najłatwiejsza do przeczytania i wymagała wielu żmudnych godzin czytania, próby zrozumienia terminologii, aby moc kontynuować lekturę. Polecam, ale w moim mniemaniu taka pozycja dla studenta 1 roku może stanowić pewne wyzwanie.

[Attasit Sittidumrong · Rating 4 out of 5]

An attemp to ascertain the methodological device for social and political analysis, developed from Ernesto Laclau and Chantal Mouffe's political theory of discourse. Discourse, thus, is the main story of this book. In my view, this book is part of the author's bigger plan of representing the new vision of political science, whose main unit of analysis is no longer the system based on scientific methos, since it could propose discourse as the new unit, which allows us to see in politics the operation of power as well as the possibility of emancipation.

The book is friendly for the beginner, and it could provide a glimpse of conducting research in the stlye of discourse analysis

[Krystian Dziubas Żmigrodzki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jeżeli kogoś interesuje badanie kwestii społecznych, tematy hegemonii i dyskursu w wydaniu Foucaulta, Derridy, Althussera i przede wszystkim Laclau i Mouffe - to tutaj ma wstęp do różnych teorii i podejść, odpowiednio (choć skrótowo i w sposób dosyć ciężki) opisanie ich głównych założeń oraz ewentualną krytykę słabszych stron. Jest to więc wstęp, który daje ogólny wgląd, ale nie wiem czy jest to idealny sposób na zrozumienie o co w ogóle w tym dyskursie (i teorii dyskursu, bo to dwie różne sprawy) się rozchodzi.

[Christer Larsson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good but quite dense, at least for me. But rewarding when finished.
Gives a good general (and quite deep) knowledge about discourse theory, beginning with describing more structural accounts followed by post-structural ditto (i.e., Foucault) leading up to marxist and post-marxist accounts of discourse theory.

[Sean · Rating 2 out of 5]

The last 4 pages were really clear and useful. The previous 138 pages were extremely dense that I personally had a lot of trouble picking out useful material. Basically I think if you're summarizing Foucault and you are being more dense and inaccessible than Foucault summarizing Foucault then your reader(s) might end up feeling a little bit sad :(

[Sreenidhi Sreekumar · Rating 3 out of 5]

A primer on what is discourse and the various dimensions of the approach from different perspectives. The book introduces to its readers the multiple schools of discourse and the limitations of these approaches. It also slightly touch upon the methodology of discourse analysis.

[kinga]

jak mogę ocenić książkę której w 70% nie zrozumiałam

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a pretty good book on a very difficult subject, an attempt to explain discourse a la Laclau and Mouffe, and one that is half as dense as Laclau and Mouffe. A big achievement I'd say, covering Saussure, Derrida, Foucault, Marxism (via Althusser and Pecheux). After fighting through it I got quite a lot out of it, but it took some work. More work than I like to spend on an overview. And sadly for me he didn't relate these things to Critical Discourse Analysis, though I suppose I'm smart enough now to do it for myself. Maybe. Maybe I have a grasp on Laclau and Mouffe now.

[Matthew Trickett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not a dumbed-down reader at all. This secondary text on discourse analysis encourages cross-readings that will make you link up the chain of discourse theorists and their complex concepts.