Social Character, Tribalism and Society: The Angry Crowd [Hardcover]

Chris Shilling and Philip A. Mellor argue that recent developments in social character are key to explaining the sectarian tribalism that has afflicted American and European societies in recent decades.
Building upon one of the most influential books of the twentieth century, David Riesman'sThe Lonely Crowd, the authors explore the social and economic conditions that have resulted in a 'thinning' of empathy and mutual identification, the significance of inequalities and social movements in stimulating the emergence of identity-directedness, and the opportunity-directed exploitation of dynamic social change, risk and uncertainty. Reflecting on an era marked by intensifying conflict, Social Character, Tribalism and Society asks whether it is possible that a 'saving remnant' could emerge from the characterological struggle that is fraying the social fabric and threatening to destabilise social order.

Chris Shillingis emeritus professor of sociology at the University of Kent.
Philip A. Melloris professor of religion and social theory at the University of Leeds.

This is a book for our times. The twenty-first century has seen big shifts in how people live, think, feel and steer their behavior. This book explains why. And, though not a political book, it helps to answer the question of the age: how was Trump possible? Stephen Mennell, professor emeritus, University College Dublin

Shilling and Mellor have produced a robust and scholarly analysis that makes a vital contribution to our understanding of contemporary social character and its discontents. Creatively extending Riesman's classic thesis, they help make sense of an array of contemporary developments-from the quantified self to the 'echo chamber' of social media. Their idenl£}