
Two-Dimensional Man
An Essay on the Anthropology of Power and Symbolism in Complex Society
Abner Cohen(Author)
Routledge (Publisher)
1st Edition
Published on 21. March 2017
Book
Paperback/Softback
170 pages
978-1-138-92905-0 (ISBN)
Description
Central to this original study, first published in 1974, is that Political Man is also Symbolist Man, that man is two-dimensional. The book explores the possibilities of the systematic study of the dialectical interdependence between power relationships and symbolic action in modern, complex society. The discussion focuses on the processes by which interest groups, that cannot organise themselves formally, manipulate different types of symbolic formations to articulate a number of basic organisational functions: distinctiveness, communication, decision-making, authority, ideology and socialisation. The analysis is worked out in terms of specific case studies of different types of groupings, or 'invisible organisations' - ethnic, elitist, religious, ritually secret, cousinhood - which go through processes of cultural metamorphosis, shifting from one symbolic strategy to another, in response to changes in their circumstances. In conclusion, the discussion is brought to bear on the study of stratification in large-scale industrial society generally.
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Taylor & Francis Ltd
Target group
College/higher education
Dimensions
Height: 234 mm
Width: 156 mm
Weight
249 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-138-92905-0 (9781138929050)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

Abner Cohen
Two-Dimensional Man
An Essay on the Anthropology of Power and Symbolism in Complex Society
Book
07/2015
1st Edition
Routledge
€193.45
Shipment within 10-20 days

Abner Cohen
Two-Dimensional Man
An Essay on the Anthropology of Power and Symbolism in Complex Society
E-Book
07/2015
Routledge
€55.49
Available for download

Abner Cohen
Two-Dimensional Man
An Essay on the Anthropology of Power and Symbolism in Complex Society
E-Book
07/2015
Routledge
€55.49
Available for download
Person
Abner Cohen
Content
1. Introduction: the Bizarre and the Mystical in Modern Society 2. Power Relations and Symbolic Action 3. The Dialectics of Politico-Symbolic Interdependence 4. Political Man - Symbolist man 5. Symbolic Strategies in Group Organisation 6. 'Invisible' Organisations: Some Case Studies 7. Conclusions: Symbolic Action in the Politics of Stratification