{"product_id":"agency-at-work-ethnographies-inof-late-industrialism-9783631846094","title":"Agency at Work: Ethnographies in\/of Late Industrialism","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cblockquote\u003eThis book explores agency in late industrialism through an ethnographic study of a coal power plant and its local community in Opole Silesia, Poland. It shows how variables and forces of various scales shape political events, grassroots economic dynamics, the local semiosphere, affective dimensions of social protest, (un)doing gender, and mobile livelihoods of migrant industrial workers, concretizing the concept of late modernity and agency. \u003c\/blockquote\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFormat\u003c\/strong\u003e: Hardback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLength\u003c\/strong\u003e: 164 pages\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePublication date\u003c\/strong\u003e: 02 July 2021\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePublisher\u003c\/strong\u003e: Peter Lang AG\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis comprehensive volume delves into the intricate workings of agency in late industrialism, shedding light on the dynamics between a coal power plant and a local community in Opole Silesia, southwestern Poland. Through the ethnographic method, the authors unveil the multifaceted factors and forces that shape political events, grassroots economic activities, the local semiosphere, affective dimensions of social protests, gender dynamics in the industrial workplace, and the mobile livelihoods of migrant industrial workers. By meticulously examining these interconnections, the authors provide valuable insights into the concept of late modernity and agency, offering a rich and nuanced understanding of this complex societal phenomenon.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIntroduction:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe study of agency has been a central focus in the fields of anthropology and ethnology, as it seeks to understand the complex processes by which individuals and groups shape their own lives and the world around them. In the context of late industrialism, the study of agency becomes particularly relevant as it explores the ways in which individuals and communities navigate the rapidly changing social, economic, and political landscapes.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTheoretical Framework:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe volume draws upon a range of theoretical frameworks to analyze the workings of agency in late industrialism. These frameworks include neo-Marxism, post-structuralism, and critical realism, among others. Neo-Marxism emphasizes the power dynamics and social inequalities that shape human interactions, while post-structuralism focuses on the discursive and performative nature of power relations. Critical realism, on the other hand, emphasizes the interdependence of social, economic, and political processes and the role of individuals and groups in shaping these processes.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCase Study:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe case study presented in the volume takes place in Opole Silesia, a region in southwestern Poland known for its coal-mining industry. The study focuses on the interactions between a coal power plant and a local community, examining the ways in which these interactions shape political events, grassroots economic dynamics, the local semiosphere, affective dimensions of social protests, gender dynamics in the industrial workplace, and the mobile livelihoods of migrant industrial workers.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFindings:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThrough the ethnographic method, the authors reveal the complex web of factors and forces that shape these interactions. They demonstrate how variables and forces of various scales, such as the global economy, national politics, local institutions, and social networks, interact to shape political events, grassroots economic activities, and the local semiosphere. They also show how grassroots economic dynamics and entrepreneurship are influenced by the power plant and the local community, and how the local semiosphere serves as a unifying force for the divided social group.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe authors also explore the affective dimensions of social protests, highlighting the ways in which emotions and social relationships play a crucial role in shaping these protests. They show how the power plant and the local community interact to create conditions that facilitate or hinder social protests, and how these protests can have both positive and negative consequences for the local community.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn addition, the volume examines the (un)doing of gender in the industrial workplace, highlighting the ways in which gender norms and stereotypes are reproduced and challenged in this context. The authors show how the power plant and the local community interact to create conditions that perpetuate or challenge gender inequalities, and how these inequalities can have both economic and social consequences for individuals and groups.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFinally, the authors explore the mobile livelihoods of migrant industrial workers, highlighting the challenges and opportunities that these workers face in the context of late industrialism. They show how the power plant and the local community interact to create conditions that facilitate or hinder the mobility of migrant workers, and how these workers navigate the complex social, economic, and political landscapes of the region.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eConclusion:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn conclusion, this comprehensive volume offers analytical insights into the workings of agency in late industrialism, shedding light on the complex interconnections between individuals, communities, and the larger social, economic, and political structures. By employing the ethnographic method, the authors provide a rich and nuanced understanding of the factors and forces that shape political events, grassroots economic activities, the local semiosphere, affective dimensions of social protests, gender dynamics in the industrial workplace, and the mobile livelihoods of migrant industrial workers. This volume is a valuable contribution to the field of anthropology and ethnology, and it will be of interest to scholars and researchers working in these fields as well as those interested in the study of late industrialism and agency.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWeight\u003c\/strong\u003e: 289g\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDimension\u003c\/strong\u003e: 210 x 148 (mm)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eISBN-13\u003c\/strong\u003e: 9783631846094\u003cbr\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eEdition number\u003c\/strong\u003e: New ed\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Shulph Ink","offers":[{"title":"Hardback","offer_id":44101099028730,"sku":"9783631846094","price":30.8,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0522\/4297\/2845\/products\/1646195663464_book.jpg?v=1646925330","url":"https:\/\/shulphink.com\/products\/agency-at-work-ethnographies-inof-late-industrialism-9783631846094","provider":"Shulph Ink","version":"1.0","type":"link"}