The Information State in England
The Central Collection of Information on Citizens since 1500
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Beschreibung
Is the official collection of information on individuals inevitably leading to the creation of a 'Big Brother State'? In this innovative interdisciplinary study, Edward Higgs takes issue with writers such as Michel Foucault and Anthony Giddens who argue that state information gathering can be seen in terms of an expansion towards modernity, and as social control. Using ground-breaking historical research, Higgs reveals that, since 1500, the English state has always been an Information State although the nature of that state has changed markedly over the last 500 years. In its modern form, the Information State is as much about winning consent via the provision of benefits as repression in the interests of elites.
The Information State in England
- draws upon a wide range of sociological theory and historical research, as well as evidence gathered from archival sources
- challenges many assumptions about state formation and the role of information
- views the development of the state in terms of the changing balance between decentralized and centralized forms of governance
provides a critique of sociological and postmodernist concepts of modernity.
The Information State in England is a ground-breaking study of the history of the state's surveillance of its citizens. Taking issue with authors such as Michel Foucault and Anthony Giddens, Edward Higgs argues that state information gathering in England over the last 500 years cannot be seen simply in terms of an expansion towards modernity, or as social control. The English state in this period was always an Information State, and in its modern form it is as much about winning consent via the provision of benefits as repression of the interests of elites.
An original interdisciplinary study of the historical development of the Information State in England
Deals with a highly topical subject, given present concerns surrounding the possibility of identity cards and the idea of the 'Big Brother State'
Presents new archival research and offers a critique of sociological theory
Autor*in
Edward Higgs
Themen in »The Information State in England«
England English hegemony information information technology Information Technology (IT) Michel Foucault Repression state technology war