Ulrich Beck

The theme of reflexivity has come to be central to social analysis. In this book three prominent social thinkers discuss the implications of "reflexive modernization" for social and cultural theory today. Ulrich Beck's vision of the "risk society" has already become extraordinarily influential. Beck offers a new elaboration of his basic ideas, connecting reflexive modernization with new issues to do with the state and political organization. Giddens offers an in-depth examination of the connections between "institutional reflexivity" and the de-traditionalizing of the modern world. We are entering, he argues, a phase of the development of a global society. A "global society" is not a world society, but one with universalizing tendencies. Lash develops the theme of reflexive modernization in relation the aesthetics and the interpretation of culture. In this domain, he suggests, we need to look again at the conventional theories of postmodernism; "aesthetic modernization" has distinctive qualities that need to be uncovered and analyzed. In the concluding sections of the book, the three authors offer critical appraisals of each other's viewpoints, providing a synthetic conclusion to the work as a whole.

This panoramic analysis of the condition of Western societies has been hailed as a classic. This first English edition has taken its place as a core text of contemporary sociology alongside earlier typifications of society as postindustrial and current debates about the social dimensions of the postmodern. Underpinning the analysis is the notion of the 'risk society'. The changing nature of society's relation to production and distribution is related to the environmental impact as a totalizing, globalizing economy based on scientific and technical knowledge becomes more central to social organization and social conflict.

Seit fast 30 Jahren der einzige von und für Lehrerinnen und Lehrer gemachte Taschenkalender für den Schulalltag. Kalenderium schuljahresbezogen von August 2005 bis Juli 2006. Ein fester Stamm von Mitarbeitern aus dem schulischen Bereich, aber auch professionelle Zeichner und Fotografen sorgen Jahr für Jahr für eine bunte Mischung aus interessanten Texten, Cartoons, Fotos. Im Anhang Schüler- und Notenlisten, Tips, Adressen, Neues aus dem pädagogischen Bereich, Internetadressen, ausländische Feiertrage u.v.a.m.