The Politics of Uncertainty : Attachment in Private and Public Life

In The Politics of Uncertainty Peter Marris examines one of the most crucial and least studied aspects of social relationships: how we manage uncertainty, from the child's struggle for secure attachment to the competitive strategies of multinational corporations. Using a powerful synthesis of social and psychological theory, he shows how strategies of competition interact with the individual's sense of personal agency to place the heaviest burden of uncertainty on those with the fewest social and economic resources. He argues that these strategies maximize uncertainty for everyone by undermining the reciprocity essential to successful economic and social relationships. At a time when global economic reorganisation is undermining security of employment, The Politics of Uncertainty makes a convincing case for strategies of co-operation at both personal and political levels to ensure our economic and social survival in the twenty-first century. In The Politics of Uncertainty Peter Marris examines one of the most crucial and least studied aspects of social relationships: how we manage uncertainty, from the child's struggle for secure attachment to the competitive strategies of multinational corporations. Using a powerful synthesis of social and psychological theory, he shows how strategies of competition interact with the individual's sense of personal agency to place the heaviest burden of uncertainty on those with the fewest social and economic resources. He argues that these strategies maximize uncertainty for everyone by undermining the reciprocity essential to successful economic and social relationships. At a time when global economic reorganisation is undermining security of employment, The Politics of Uncertainty makes a convincing case for strategies of co-operation at both personal and political levels to ensure our economic and social survival in the twenty-first century In The Politics Of Uncertainty Peter Marris Examines One Of The Most Crucial And Least Studied Aspects Of Social Relationships: How We Manage Uncertainty, From The Child's Struggle For Secure Attachment To The Competitive Strategies Of Multinational Corporations. Using A Powerful Synthesis Of Social And Psychological Theory, He Shows How Strategies Of Competition Interact With The Individual's Sense Of Personal Agency To Place The Heaviest Burden Of Uncertainty On Those With The Fewest Social And Economic Resources. He Argues That These Strategies Maximize Uncertainty For Everyone By Undermining The Reciprocity Essential To Successful Economic And Social Relationships. At A Time When Global Economic Reorganization Is Undermining Security Of Employment, The Politics Of Uncertainty Makes A Convincing Case For Strategies Of Co-operation At Both Personal And Political Levels To Ensure Our Economic And Social Survival In The Twenty-first Century. 1. The Uncertainties Of Everyday Life -- 2. Uncertainty And The Construction Of Meaning -- 3. The Idea Of Self -- 4. Attachment -- 5. Attachment And Control Of Uncertainty -- 6. Meanings In Public And Private -- 7. Controlling Relationships -- 8. Self-defeating Defences Against Uncertainty -- 9. Loss And The Recovery Of Meaning -- 10. Planning -- 11. Reciprocity Versus Competition -- 12. Moral Uncertainty. Peter Marris. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [172]-181) And Index. "In The Politics of Uncertainty Peter Marris examines one of the most crucial and least studied aspects of social relationships: how we manage uncertainty, from the child's struggle for secure attachment to the competitive strategies of multinational corporations. Using a powerful synthesis of social and psychological theory, he shows how strategies of competition interact with the individual's sense of personal agency to place the heaviest burden of uncertainty on those with the fewest social and economic resources. He argues that these strategies maximize uncertainty for everyone by undermining the reciprocity essential to successful economic and social relationships." "At a time when global economic reorganization is undermining security of employment, The Politics of Uncertainty makes a convincing case for strategies of co-operation at both personal and political levels to ensure our economic and social survival in the twenty-first century."--Résumé de l'éditeur Book Cover......Page 1 Half-Title......Page 2 Title......Page 4 Copyright......Page 5 Dedication......Page 6 Contents......Page 8 Preface......Page 9 Introduction......Page 12 1 The uncertainties of everyday life......Page 19 2 Uncertainty and the construction of meaning......Page 24 3 The idea of self......Page 31 4 Attachment......Page 41 5 Attachment and control of uncertainty......Page 50 6 Meanings in public and private......Page 59 7 Controlling relationships......Page 75 8 Self-defeating defences against uncertainty......Page 88 9 Loss and the recovery of meaning......Page 97 10 Planning......Page 106 11 Reciprocity versus competition......Page 115 12 Moral uncertainty......Page 123 Notes......Page 135 Index......Page 146 This book argues the case for strategies of co-operation at both personal and political levels. The author challenges conventional assumptions about economic development and proposes a new way of looking at power relationships Annotation This provocative and important book makes a convincing case for strategies of co-operation at both personal and political levels to ensure our economic and social survial in the twenty-first century