Sociology and the Challenge of Globalisation

Abstract

The aporia of postmodernity confirmed the continued significance of critical sociology as a partner in a conversation that would connect personal troubles to public issues. But as the conversation proceeded and was joined by more and more participants, a question arose about whether the focus on postmodernity was a help or hindrance. It is clear that Bauman started to wonder. As the debate about postmodernity became more widespread, gradually he stopped talking in its terms. Undoubtedly, there was a degree of subjective choice about this. Some of Bauman’s comments show that he stopped using the word postmodernity because he was keen that his books be read for what was inside them rather than because of how they had been classified. Bauman has reflected that on account of his work on postmodernity he was, ‘filed away’ and meanings were imposed upon his work from outside and according to preconceptions (Bauman and Tester, forthcoming. Even the most careful and sophisticated commentators tend to put Bauman’s work in the file labelled ‘postmodernity’; see for example Shilling and Mellor 2001). In the context of Bauman’s sociological commitments, this is no trifling complaint.