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Critique of culture
INTERROGATING CULTURE —
Critical Perspectives on Contemporary Social Theory: Sarah Joseph;
Sage Publications, P.B. No. 4215, New Delhi-110048.
Rs. 295.
THIS SIGNIFICANT book explores the relationship between the three concepts — knowledge, culture
and power — which are being debated currently in social science. The author critically examines various
assumptions about culture and emphasises the need for a political theory intervention in its study. She
maintains that political theory today needs to deal with issues of power and inequality in relation to
culture. She also pleads for a better and more political understanding of culture for social science.
Culture dominates the media, popular discourse and social science. Globalisation has given a boost to
understanding different cultures. The changes that are taking place in society and culture must be
understood properly, as culture is invoked as a source for social explanation. However, the author feels
that the grounding of culture in the material dimensions of social life has not been fully theorised. Hence
the present study.
In the first chapter she evaluates the thoughts of communitarian thinkers like Charles Taylor and Michael
Waizer who have been sensitive to the issue of protecting cultural diversity in a society. They are the
ardent supporters of multiculturalist policies.
Chapter two, dealing with culture and community, highlights that communitarian concepts of culture have
prevailed. The third chapter deals with the “disillusionment.., regarding the benefit of the modernising
nationstate”. Modernity must be analysed fully. Within this framework, the author has analysed the
indigenous science debate of the Seventies and the Eighties with reference to issues of culture, power
and knowledge in the next. The author convincingly maintains that social science knowledge should be
grounded in the study of society in all dimensions and laments that we have not yet developed an “Indian
ethno-social science”.
Chapter five focusses on liberals, communitarians and the protection of cultural diversity. In political
theory, multiculturalism and secularism are viewed by liberals and communitarians differently. The former
gives importance to the individual and his rights and the latter pleads for collective rights to groups also.
The author critically examines the liberal-communitarian debate in contemporary political theory.
The kind of political alternatives to modernity as suggested by communitarian critics of modernity in India
is dealt with in the next. In the last chapter, the author maintains that culture must be viewed as a
dimension of all social processes. It may be implicated in power and conflict.
The traditional concern of political analysis and social values like justice, freedom and equality must be
the central focus of the theory of culture. Hence, it must have a central focus on social science.
There is an urgent need to theorise the relationship between culture and power. This should be studied in
relation to specific historical societies. The author urges the need for such a perspective. In this context,
she brings out the relevance of Marx’s views on culture and ideology and pleads for the need to build on
Marx’s insights with reference to the relationship between culture and society.
THOMAS EDMUNDS