Postmodernity and Its Discontents

When Freud wrote his classic Civilization and its Discontents, hewas concerned with repression. Modern civilization depends upon theconstraint of impulse, the limiting of self expression.


Today, in the time of modernity, Bauman argues, Freud's analysis nolonger holds good, if it ever did. The regulation of desire turnsfrom an irritating necessity into an assault against individualfreedom. In the postmodern era, the liberty of the individual isthe overriding value, the criterion in terms of which all socialrules and regulations are assessed. Postmodernity is governed bythe 'will to happiness': the result, however, is a sacrificing ofsecurity.


The most prominent anxieties in our society today, Bauman shows, derive from the removal of security. The world is experienced asoverwhelmingly uncertain, uncontrollable and frightening.Totalitarian politics frightened by its awesome power
the newsocial disorder frightens by its lack of consistency and direction.The very pursuit of individual happiness corrupts and underminesthose systems of authority needed for a stable life.


This book builds imaginatively upon Bauman's earlier contributionsto social theory. It consolidates his reputation as the interpreterof postmodernity. The book will appeal to second-yearundergraduates and above in sociology, cultural studies, philosophyand anthropology.