1.

Record Nr.

UNINA9910819935603321

Autore

Wagner-Pacifici Robin Erica

Titolo

Theorizing the standoff : contingency in action / / Robin Wagner-Pacifici [[electronic resource]]

Pubbl/distr/stampa

Cambridge : , : Cambridge University Press, , 2000

ISBN

1-107-11745-3

1-280-42066-9

0-511-15220-5

0-511-48888-2

0-511-17320-2

0-511-04824-6

0-511-31098-6

0-521-65479-3

Descrizione fisica

1 online resource (xiv, 276 pages) : digital, PDF file(s)

Collana

Cambridge cultural social studies

Disciplina

303.6

Soggetti

Social conflict

Social conflict - United States

Conflict management

Lingua di pubblicazione

Inglese

Formato

Materiale a stampa

Livello bibliografico

Monografia

Note generali

Title from publisher's bibliographic system (viewed on 05 Oct 2015).

Nota di bibliografia

Includes bibliographical references (p. 258-267) and index.

Nota di contenuto

Acknowledgements -- Theorizing contingency -- The times of standoffs -- The spaces of standoffs -- The action of standoffs -- Endings and improvisations.

Sommario/riassunto

This book combines original theoretical analysis with real life case studies to examine the nature of the standoff. Starting with the standoffs of Wounded Knee, MOVE, Ruby Ridge, Waco, Freeman of Montana, Tupac Amaru, Republic of Texas, the author explores the archetypal patterns of human action and cognition that move us into and out of these highly charged situations and seeks to theorize the contingency of all such moments. As an emergency situation where interaction is both frozen and continuing, the standoff evokes original ideas about time, space and appropriate or anticipated action and individuals and organisations often find their standard operating



procedures and categories deflected and transformed. By tracking and analysing such impositions and deflections, this book aims to develop a theory of the fundamental existential indeterminacy of social life and the possible role that improvisation can play in navigating this indeterminacy and preventing a violent and destructive conclusion. Co-winner of the 2001 Best Book Award given by the Sociology of Culture Section of the American Sociological Association.