New Horizons of Social Theory Conversation, Transformations and Beyound

Book Details

• Author: Ananta Kumar Giri

• Publisher: Rawat Publications

• Language: English

• Edition: 2006

• ISBN: 8131600246

• Pages: 374

• Cover: Hardcover

• Dimensions: 9.8 x 6.5 x 1.1 inches

• Sale Territory: India

About the Book

"New Horizons of Social Theory: Conversations, Transformations and Beyond" presents a compelling argument for the need for social criticism to embrace a broader agenda that includes spiritual criticism, in addition to rational analysis. The book, authored by Indian social theorist Ananta Kumar Giri, offers a refreshing call to engage with the most pressing social and political issues in late modernity.

The work integrates Western thought with Indian social theory, drawing from a vast array of Indian intellectual traditions that have largely been overlooked by Western scholarship. Alongside key figures such as Gandhi and Sri Aurobindo, Giri includes lesser-known Indian social theorists, economists, sociologists, and essayists. These thinkers advocate for transcendence beyond self-interest, social responsibility, and political renewal, emphasizing the need for transformation in both personal and societal realms.

Giri’s writing is lucid, well-argued, and thoroughly transdisciplinary. It encourages readers to engage in a truly planetary conversation, one that transcends both Indian and European ethnocentric perspectives, offering an inclusive framework for social theory. This book is an excellent resource for anyone interested in a global, cross-cultural dialogue on social theory and its applications in the modern world.

Contents

• The book covers a variety of Indian and Western texts and social theories, exploring their relevance in today's society.

• It includes discussions on the transformation of self-interest, the importance of social responsibility, and the need for political renewal.

About the Author

Ananta Kumar Giri is a faculty member at the Madras Institute of Development Studies, Chennai, India. He has taught at several universities in India and abroad, including the University of Kentucky (USA), Aalborg University (Denmark), and Albert Ludwigs Universitat (Freiburg, Germany). His academic interests focus on social theory and social movements. Dr. Giri has authored numerous books in Oriya and English, including Global Transformations: Postmodernity and Beyond (1998), Sameekhya o Purodrusti (Criticism and the Vision of the Future, 1999), Building in the Margins of Shacks: The Vision and Projects of Habitat for Humanity (2002), and Reflections and Mobilizations: Dialogues with Movements and Voluntary Organizations (2004).