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The Cement of Society
A Survey of Social Order

Part of Studies in Rationality and Social Change

Author: Jon Elster, Columbia University, New York

Date Published: July 1989
availability: Available
format: Paperback
isbn: 9780521376075

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About the Authors

The question Jon Elster addresses in this challenging book is what binds societies together and prevents them from disintegrating into chaos and war. He analyses two concepts of social order: stable, predictable patterns of behaviour, and co-operative behaviour. The book examines various aspects of collective action and bargaining from the perspective of rational-choice theory and the theory of social norms. It is a fundamental assumption of the book that social norms provide an important kind of motivation for action that is irreducible to rationality. The book represents a major statement by Elster, which will be of particular interest to political scientists, political philosophers, sociologists, and economists.

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Product details
- Date Published: July 1989
- format: Paperback
- isbn: 9780521376075
- length: 320 pages
- dimensions: 214 x 136 x 21 mm
- weight: 0.373kg
- contains: 42 b/w illus.
- availability: Available
Table of Contents
Preface and acknowledgements
Introduction: the two problems of social order
1. Collective action
2. Bargaining
3. Social norms
4. Bargaining and collective action
5. Collective action and social norms
6. Bargaining and social norms
Conclusion: the cement of society
References
Index.
Look Inside
Author
Jon Elster, Columbia University, New York