Routledge Handbook of Identity Studies

Routledge International Handbooks

by Anthony Elliott (Editor)

In this comprehensive, accessible handbook, acclaimed social theorist Anthony Elliott brings together internationally distinguished and emergent scholars in the social sciences and humanities to review the major theoretical traditions, trends and trajectories in the hugely popular field of identity studies. The Routledge Handbook of Identity Studies set new standards for reference works when first published, such was the far-reaching sweep of topics discussed – including identity studies reconfigured by feminism, post-structuralism and postmodernism, individualization theories, media and cultural studies, race and ethnicity, consumerism, environmentalism, post-colonialism, globalization and many more. This second edition of the handbook contains new contributions, including an updated general introduction from Anthony Elliott on the fast-changing conditions and contours of identity transformations in the global age. There are also new chapters on the emergence of posthuman identities - with specific focus on the global consequences of biotechnology, biomedicine, robotics and artificial intelligence for the analysis of identity - and on identity mobilities. The handbook's clear and accessible format will appeal to a wide undergraduate audience, as well as researchers and teachers, in the social sciences and humanities.

440 pages, Paperback

First published July 22, 2011

Reviews

[غيداء الجويسر]

Ten months since I started reading this book, though it could've only taken 22 days if I read one chapter everyday! Anyway, this is a must read for whoever interested in the concept of Identity (I always like to capitalise the I). I admit that I skimmed 4 out of 5 chapters of the third and last part - (The book comes in three parts: (1) Theories of identity, (2) The analysis of identity and (3) Identity-politics and its consequences). Otherwise, I read the rest word by word, and in some occasions 'by heart' <3.
I want to quote from the last chapter (Identity -politics in the global age):
"It is no wonder that the late Edward Said, in an article for the Nation which approved in the aftermath h of 9/11, derided the 'clash of civilisations' as a 'clash of ignorance' (The nation 22 October 2001)!." End of quote.
It will take ages to write a full & detailed review. Meanwhile I am working on 'an effective skimming skill for academic reading'!