Rethinking Comparative Cultural Sociology: Repertoires of Evaluation in France and the United States

doi:10.1017/CBO9780511628108

This book provides a powerful theoretical framework for understanding cross-national cultural differences. Focusing on France and America, it analyses how the people of these two different cultures mobilise national 'repertoires of evaluation' to make judgements about politics, economics, morals and aesthetics. The analysis draws on eight case studies by eleven French and American researchers who have worked together over a number of years to develop systematic comparisons between these countries. The topics are wide-ranging, comparing how individuals use the cultural tools at their disposal to answer questions such as: are races equal? What constitutes sexual harassment? What is the value of contemporary art? Should journalists be neutral? How can the defense of the environment be reconciled with economic imperatives? Moving beyond simplistic essentialist models of national character, this comparative approach offers important insights that will interest not only sociologists but also political scientists and anthropologists.

"Rethinking Comparative Cultural Sociology is the product of an unprecedented multiyear collaboration between 11 French and American researchers...[it is] an extraordinary contribution to the field of comparative cultural sociology." American Journal of Sociology

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Contents

Frontmatter
pp i-viii
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Contents
pp ix-x
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Notes on contributors
pp xi-xiv
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Acknowledgements
pp xv-xvi
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1 - Introduction: toward a renewed comparative cultural sociology
pp 1-22
- By Michéle Lamont, Laurent Thévenot
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Part I - Race, gender, and multiculturalism
pp 23-24
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2 - The rhetorics of racism and anti-racism in France and the United States
pp 25-55
- By Michéle Lamont
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3 - Sexual harassment in France and the United States: activists and public figures defend their definitions
pp 56-93
- By Abigail Cope Saguy
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4 - Assessing the literary: intellectual boundaries in French and American literary studies
pp 94-124
- By Jason Duell
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Part II - The cultural sphere: publishing, journalism, and the arts
pp 125-126
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5 - Culture or commerce? Symbolic boundaries in French and American book publishing
pp 127-147
- By Daniel Weber
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6 - Involvement and detachment among French and American journalists: to be or not to be a “real” professional
pp 148-169
- By Cyril Lemieux, John Schmalzbauer
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7 - From rejection of contemporary art to culture war
pp 170-210
- By Nathalie Heinich
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Part III - Political cultures and practices
pp 211-212
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8 - Community and civic culture: the Rotary Club in France and the United States
pp 213-228
- By Agnés Camus-Vigué
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9 - Forms of valuing nature: arguments and modes of justification in French and American environmental disputes
pp 229-272
- By Laurent Thévenot, Michael Moody, Claudette Lafaye
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10 - Comparing models of strategy, interests, and the public good in French and American environmental disputes
pp 273-306
- By Michael Moody, Laurent Thévenot
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Conclusion: Exploring the French and the American polity
pp 307-327
- By Laurent Thévenot, Michéle Lamont
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References
pp 328-366
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Index
pp 367-375
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Rethinking Comparative Cultural Sociology

Repertoires of Evaluation in France and the United States

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Contents

Frontmatter
pp i-viii

Contents
pp ix-x

Notes on contributors
pp xi-xiv

Acknowledgements
pp xv-xvi

1 - Introduction: toward a renewed comparative cultural sociology
pp 1-22

Part I - Race, gender, and multiculturalism
pp 23-24

2 - The rhetorics of racism and anti-racism in France and the United States
pp 25-55

3 - Sexual harassment in France and the United States: activists and public figures defend their definitions
pp 56-93

4 - Assessing the literary: intellectual boundaries in French and American literary studies
pp 94-124

Part II - The cultural sphere: publishing, journalism, and the arts
pp 125-126

5 - Culture or commerce? Symbolic boundaries in French and American book publishing
pp 127-147

6 - Involvement and detachment among French and American journalists: to be or not to be a “real” professional
pp 148-169

7 - From rejection of contemporary art to culture war
pp 170-210

Part III - Political cultures and practices
pp 211-212

8 - Community and civic culture: the Rotary Club in France and the United States
pp 213-228

9 - Forms of valuing nature: arguments and modes of justification in French and American environmental disputes
pp 229-272

10 - Comparing models of strategy, interests, and the public good in French and American environmental disputes
pp 273-306

Conclusion: Exploring the French and the American polity
pp 307-327

References
pp 328-366

Index
pp 367-375

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Rethinking Comparative Cultural Sociology

Repertoires of Evaluation in France and the United States

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