Difference and Necessity in Identity and Control

Harrison White introduced numerous important and generative theoretical insights in his large body of work. In this piece, I focus on describing the impact and implications of two central contributions made in Identity and Control (1992 & 2008), which are also developed in other writings. The fi...

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Main Author: Emily Erikson
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: University of Bologna 2025-07-01
Series:Sociologica
Subjects:
Online Access:https://sociologica.unibo.it/article/view/21584
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author Emily Erikson
author_facet Emily Erikson
author_sort Emily Erikson
collection DOAJ
description Harrison White introduced numerous important and generative theoretical insights in his large body of work. In this piece, I focus on describing the impact and implications of two central contributions made in Identity and Control (1992 & 2008), which are also developed in other writings. The first is an articulation of the role of difference, decoupling, and disjuncture in producing meaning. The second is a revelation that certain social processes and theoretical concepts that have been conceived and analyzed as separate are reciprocally linked in ways that have important repercussions for individual behavior and macro-social outcomes.
format Article
id doaj-art-21592a954eef45ceac331e4547eaeacc
institution Kabale University
issn 1971-8853
language English
publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher University of Bologna
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series Sociologica
spelling doaj-art-21592a954eef45ceac331e4547eaeacc2025-08-20T03:27:21ZengUniversity of BolognaSociologica1971-88532025-07-01192213010.6092/issn.1971-8853/2158419962Difference and Necessity in Identity and ControlEmily Erikson0https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2092-4676Department of Sociology, Yale UniversityHarrison White introduced numerous important and generative theoretical insights in his large body of work. In this piece, I focus on describing the impact and implications of two central contributions made in Identity and Control (1992 & 2008), which are also developed in other writings. The first is an articulation of the role of difference, decoupling, and disjuncture in producing meaning. The second is a revelation that certain social processes and theoretical concepts that have been conceived and analyzed as separate are reciprocally linked in ways that have important repercussions for individual behavior and macro-social outcomes.https://sociologica.unibo.it/article/view/21584social theorynetworksharrison whitesocial structurerelationalism
spellingShingle Emily Erikson
Difference and Necessity in Identity and Control
Sociologica
social theory
networks
harrison white
social structure
relationalism
title Difference and Necessity in Identity and Control
title_full Difference and Necessity in Identity and Control
title_fullStr Difference and Necessity in Identity and Control
title_full_unstemmed Difference and Necessity in Identity and Control
title_short Difference and Necessity in Identity and Control
title_sort difference and necessity in identity and control
topic social theory
networks
harrison white
social structure
relationalism
url https://sociologica.unibo.it/article/view/21584
work_keys_str_mv AT emilyerikson differenceandnecessityinidentityandcontrol