Moral Panic and the Politics of Anxiety [Paperback]

Moral Panic and the Politics of Anxiety is a collection of original essays written by some of the worlds leading social scientists. It seeks to provide unique insight into the importance of moral panic as a routine feature of everyday life, whilst also developing an integrated framework for moral panic research by widening the scope of scholarship in the area.

Many of the key twenty-first century contributions to moral panic theory have moved beyond the parameters of the sociology of deviance to consider the importance of moral panic for identity formation, national security, industrial risk, and character formation. Reflecting this growth, the book brings together recognized moral panic researchers with prominent scholars in moral regulation, social problems, cultural fear, and health risks, allowing for a more careful and critical discussion around the cultural and political significance of moral panic to emerge.

This book will prove valuable reading for both undergraduate and postgraduate students on courses such as politics and the media, regulatory policy, the body and identity, theory and political sociology, and sociology of culture.

Foreword  1. Introduction: Bringing Moral Panic Studies into Focus  Part 1: Conceptualizing Moral Panic Studies  Section Introduction  2. Grounding and Defending the Sociology of Moral Panic  3. Locating Moral Panics within the Sociology of Social Problems  4. Fractious Rivals? Moral Panics and Moral Regulation  5. Shifting the Focus? Moral Panics as Civilizing and Decivilizing Processes  Part 2: Examining Moral Panic Studies  Section Introduction  6. The Objectification of Fear and the Grammar of Morality  7. How Emotions Matter to Moral Panic  8. Folk Devils Reconl“B