Food, Politics, and Society: Social Theory and the Modern Food System - Hardcover

Food and drink has been a focal point of modern social theory since the inception of agrarian capitalism and the industrial revolution. From Adam Smith to Mary Douglas, major thinkers have used key concepts such as identity, exchange, culture, and class to explain the modern food system. Food, Politics, and Society offers a historical and sociological survey of how these various ideas and the practices that accompany them have shaped our understanding and organization of the production, processing, preparation, serving, and consumption of food and drink in modern societies. Divided into twelve chapters and drawing on a wide range of historical and empirical illustrations, this book provides a concise, informed, and accessible survey of the interaction between social theory and food and drink. It is perfect for courses in a wide range of disciplines.

"This intriguing collection of original essays serves as an introduction to global food history via the multidisciplinary lens of social and political theory. Few texts achieve the balance demonstrated here."—Warren J. Belasco, author of Food Chains: From Farmyard to Shopping Cart

"This outstanding book meets a clear need in teaching the sociology and anthropology of food and eating—namely, elucidating how that empirical field relates to more general theoretical questions in the social sciences."—Stephen Mennell, Professor Emeritus of Sociology, University College Dublin

"This book covers material that is taught in any sociology of food class, in anthropology courses, and maybe even in a food history class—and it gives a broad overview of social theory and how food fits in. I’d really enjoy teaching a class using this book, now that I come to think of it!"—Ken Albala, Professor of History, University of the Pacific