Two-Dimensional Man

<p>Central to this original study first published in 1974 is that Political Man is also Symbolist Man that man is two-dimensional. The book explores the possibilities of the systematic study of the dialectical interdependence between power relationships and symbolic action in modern complex society. The discussion focuses on the processes by which interest groups that cannot organise themselves formally manipulate different types of symbolic formations to articulate a number of basic organisational functions: distinctiveness communication decision-making authority ideology and socialisation. The analysis is worked out in terms of specific case studies of different types of groupings or ‘invisible organisations’ – ethnic elitist religious ritually secret cousinhood – which go through processes of cultural metamorphosis shifting from one symbolic strategy to another in response to changes in their circumstances. In conclusion the discussion is brought to bear on the study of stratification in large-scale industrial society generally.</p>