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Discourse Analysis as Social Critique

Discursive and Non-Discursive Realities in Critical Social Research

  • Book
  • © 2016

Overview

Authors:
  1. Benno Herzog

    1. Dept of Sociology & Social Anthropology, University of Valencia, Spain

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  • Offers a systematic theoretical foundation for what critique means for the practice of discourse analysis
  • Explores the relationship between empirical research, poststructuralist discourse analysis and critical theory
  • Demonstrates how empirical discourse research can be used to develop normative critique of societies

Part of the book series: Postdisciplinary Studies in Discourse (PSDS)

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Table of contents (4 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xv
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  2. Theoretical Approaches to Critique

    • Benno Herzog
    Pages 1-66

  3. Analytical Tools

    • Benno Herzog
    Pages 67-132

  4. Practical Examples

    • Benno Herzog
    Pages 133-193

  5. Conclusions

    • Benno Herzog
    Pages 195-198

  6. Back Matter

    Pages 199-203
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Keywords

About this book

This book presents post-Marxist theoretical approaches towards social critique and offers discourse analytical tools for critical research. How is a normative critique possible? The author, working at the crossroads of sociological discourse analysis and social philosophy, answers this question and others to show how empirical discourse research can be used to develop normative critique of societies. Divided into three major sections, Herzog introduces the reader to the theoretical approaches to critique, provides tools for normative evaluations of social structures, and finally offers practical examples of theoretical concepts. The book will be of interest to those working in the fields and subfields of discourse analysis, poststructuralism, hegemony theory, cultural political economy and critical theory, with an interdisciplinary orientation.

Reviews

“Discourse Analysis as Social Critique provides a balancing act that makes a highly valuable contribution to interdisciplinary DS: combining a thorough and convincing theoretical and methodological argument with accessible hands-on examples, this book is equally interesting as a teaching resource for students and scholars looking for a workable critical approach to discourse, as well as an inspiration for more advanced discourse analysts who seek to enrich their own practice of critique.” (Veit Schwab, Discourse & Society, Vol. 29 (05), September, 2018)

“The author acknowledges the ambition of the task as ‘there is no easy way to perform social critique’ (p. 195). The book does not shy from difficulty … . The tone islively, personal (with the regular use of first and second personal pronouns) and the reader is regularly challenged … . The reader thus feels involved in the questioning and probing of key texts and methodologies in the search for better and more time-relevant ways to be critical.” (Christine Penman, Language and Intercultural Communication, Vol. 18 (06), 2018)

“In this excellent book Benno Herzog fully engages with issues of critique in discourse research, bringing into dialogue critical recognition theory and sociological discourse analysis. The author shows precisely and with great argumentative care, that contemporary recognition theory has to gain much by using tools of discourse analysis, and that discourse analysis profits from recognition theory in order to pursue issues of critique far beyond narrow traditions of critique in the field of discourse studies.” (Reiner Keller, Professor, University of Augsburg, Germany)

“What does it mean to be critical today? By drawing on European social theorists such as Karl Marx, Theodor W. Adorno and Michel Foucault, Benno Herzog invites us to address the social and political problems of our times and to think society against itself. This book makes a vigorous case for using discourse analysis in Critical Theory. Intellectually brilliant and highly readable!” (Johannes Angermuller, Professor, University Warwick, UK)

“This is an interesting and relevant study which showcases importance of systematic critique in contemporary discourse analysis as a method of critical social research. A good addition to the growing body of work in interdisciplinary discourse analysis where questions of critique and critical analysis have often been mentioned yet rarely attended to in great detail This book adds new perspectives and avenues of thinking. It broadens the existent literature in, inter alia, Critical Discourse Studies.” (Michal Krzyzanowski, Professor, Örebro University, Sweden)

Authors and Affiliations

  • Dept of Sociology & Social Anthropology, University of Valencia, Spain

    Benno Herzog

About the author

Benno Herzog is Associate Professor at the Department of Sociology and Social Anthropology, University of Valencia, Spain. He has worked and conducted research in Germany (Universities of Frankfurt and Mainz), the United Kingdom (University of Manchester, Open University, University of Warwick) and Brazil (Federal University of Paraíba). His research focuses on social critique & critical theory of society, on discourse theory & discourse analysis and on migration & discrimination.

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