Authority and Power in Social Interaction: Methods and Analysis

Authority and Power in Social Interaction examines how authority and power are created through conversation and joint action, challenging the notion that they constrain human activity. It offers a broad range of approaches to the themes of authority, power, institutions, bodies, materiality, immateriality, and third parties, and suggests that we weave together the constraints that we mutually impose on each other.

Format: Hardback
Length: 148 pages
Publication date: 31 July 2019
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Authority and Power in Social Interaction delves into comprehensive methods for analyzing authority and power within the intricate dynamics of social interaction. Drawing upon the expertise of a diverse international team of scholars specializing in organizational communication, language, and social interaction, this book challenges the notion that concepts of authority and power limit human endeavors. Instead, it proposes a fresh perspective that emphasizes how individuals (re)create these constructs through conversational interactions and collaborative actions.

Confronting a range of perspectives within each chapter, the book offers a diverse array of approaches to its themes. It explores how and when to incorporate contextual factors into the analysis, formal authority, institutions, bodies, materiality, immateriality, and third parties. A central belief of this volume is that authority and power are not imposing forces upon human activity; rather, they emerge through the mutual constraints we impose on each other. By observing the intricate details of this collaborative process, the book aims to provide a deeper understanding of how authority and power emerge and impact our actions. Moreover, it offers practical guidelines for resisting these forces.

This book serves as a valuable resource for students and scholars in the fields of language and social interaction, organizational communication, as well as those interested in exploring alternative perspectives on authority and power. It will also resonate with individuals engaged in management studies, public administration, and other disciplines where authority plays a central role.

Weight: 346g
Dimension: 234 x 158 x 18 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781138484597