Castells versus Bell: A comparison of two grand theorists of the information age

Duff, Alistair S.

Abstract

Daniel Bell (1919–2011) and Manuel Castells (1942–) are the grand theorists of the information age. The article provides a detailed, up-to-date, comparative analysis of their writings. It begins with their methodologies, identifying numerous commonalities in their post-Marxian frameworks. The substance of their theories is then examined, where it is shown that both plausibly explain contemporary social reality in terms of the interplay of three forces: the information technology revolution, the restructuring of capitalism and the innovational role of culture. There are found to be major similarities in their accounts (the Kantian interpretation, social stratification) but also significant divergences (role of science, the fourth world, the normative content of culture). Suitably combined, Bell’s and Castells’s thought goes a long way towards delivering a persuasive sociological theory of the global information society. However, the article concludes by suggesting that extensive further work is needed to clarify the precise relationships between the three factors and their relative weightings in the equations required to explain recent social change.

Citation

Duff, A. S. (2023). Castells versus Bell: A comparison of two grand theorists of the information age. European Journal of Social Theory, 26(1), 90-108. https://doi.org/10.1177/13684310221099695

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Apr 22, 2022
• Online Publication Date: May 30, 2022
• Publication Date: 2023-02
• Deposit Date: Jun 1, 2022
• Publicly Available Date: Feb 17, 2023
• Journal: European Journal of Social Theory
• Print ISSN: 1368-4310
• Electronic ISSN: 1461-7137
• Publisher: SAGE Publications
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 26
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 90-108
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/13684310221099695
• Keywords: Bell, Castells, culture, grand theory, informatization, networks
• Public URL: http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/Output/2875812