EXCHANGE IN LEVI-STRAUSS'S THEORY OF SOCIAL ORGANIZATION

This paper explicates the role of exchange in Levi-Strauss's theory of social organization, and integrates it into his general problematic. It focuses primarily on the original works of Claude Levi-Strauss, but also incorporates and critically reviews certain aspects of Ekeh (1974) and Turner (1974). Although Levi-Strauss is an anthropologist, his theoretical insights can be especially useful to the sociologist interested in macrosociology

Mid-American Review of Sociology, Volume 7, Number 2 (WINTER, 1982): Book Review

Review of Stewart Clegg's and David Dunkerley's Organization, Class and Control

Profit Seeking Organizations: Accumulation, Irrationality; Politics, and Organizational Change

This essay is critical of traditional conceptions of organizations, which attempt to develop models and propositions that apply to all kinds of organizations, employ nomothetic ahistorical methods, or assume that organizational change is an outcome of rational managerial decisions. In contrast to these mainstream perspectives, the theoretical framework herein is anchored in the Marxian and radical Weberian traditions in organization theory. This essay suggests that the need to accumulate capital and the emphasis on cost accounting principles, to determine its income yielding power, distinguishes profit seeking organizations from other kinds of organizations. Moreover, the tendency of mainstream organizational theory to assimilate Weber's distinction between substantive rationality and formal rationality conceals the profoundly political nature of strategic decisions, and the effects of irrationalities on organizational change

Climate policy conflict in the U.S. states: a critical review and way forward

Abstract Many U.S. states have taken significant action on climate change in recent years, demonstrating their commitment despite federal policy gridlock and rollbacks. Yet, there is still much we do not know about the agents, discourses, and strategies of those seeking to delay or obstruct state-level climate action. We first ask, what are the obstacles to strong and effective climate policy within U.S. states? We review the political structures and interest groups that slow action, and we examine emerging tensions between climate justice and the technocratic and/or market-oriented approaches traditionally taken by many mainstream environmental groups. Second, what are potential solutions for overcoming these obstacles? We suggest strategies for overcoming opposition to climate action that may advance more effective and inclusive state policy, focusing on political strategies, media framing, collaboration, and leveraging the efforts of ambitious local governments