Sociology

Postmodernism is a movement that developed in the late twentieth century and continues to influence contemporary social theory. If we are living in a new and different type of culture, we need new and different forms of knowledge to understand it. Postmodernists question the idea that we can ever have complete, objective knowledge: any social theory is just a claim to knowledge and a partial version of the truth. These claims are seen as equally valid, with no one view being superior to others. 64-66

Since the 1980s, there has been a trend towards the privatization of many organizations, to replace publicly owned, nationalized industries. For example, private capital has been drawn into public services like the NHS and public utilities have been sold to the private sector. Kate Mulholland looked at the effects that this has had on managers’ careers: previously, the relationship between employing organizations and managers was one of trust and commitment, as managers gave a loyal service in return for a secure career. This changed with the bureaucratic idea of the ‘portfolio career’, whereby individuals could move between organizations, capitalizing on their employability. ( 563