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The McDonaldization Thesis
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The McDonaldization Thesis
Explorations and Extensions



December 1997 | 224 pages | SAGE Publications Ltd
In this major new book, the author of the bestselling McDonaldization of Society provides an exploration of one of the most innovative and imaginative sociological theses of the last decade of the twentieth century - `McDonaldization'.

Part One centres on a discussion of Karl Mannheim's theory of rationalization. The author also assesses the degree to which sociology in general and sociological theory in particular have been `McDonaldized'. The second part demonstrates the empirical reach of the `McDonaldization' process with discussions on work, credit and globalization. Part Three moves beyond `McDonaldization' to the worlds of `new means of consumption' and the postmodern perspectives that best illuminate them. The author concludes with a re-evaluation of the McDonaldization thesis and its future.

 
Introduction: McDonaldization and Beyond
 
THEORETICAL ISSUES
 
Mannheim's Theory of Rationalization
An Alternative Resource for the McDonaldization Thesis?

 
 
The McDonaldization of American Sociology
A Metasociological Analysis

 
 
Munch(ing) on the McDonald(ization) of Social Theory
 
THE EXPANSION OF MCDONALDIZATION
 
McJobs
McDonaldization and its Relationship to the Labor Process

 
 
McDonaldization
The New American Menace

 
 
Globalization, McDonaldization and Americanization
 
Credit Cards, Fast-Food Restaurants and Increasing Rationalization
 
THE NEW MEANS OF CONSUMPTION
 
The New Means of Consumption
A Postmodern Analysis

 
 
`McDisneyization' and `Post-Tourism'
Complementary Perspectives on Contemporary Tourism

 
 
McUniversity in the Postmodern Consumer Society
 
Dealing with the New Means of Consumption
 
MCDONALDIZATION REDUX
 
Some Concluding Thoughts on the McDonaldization Thesis

`Ritzer here revisits and extends the ground-breaking theory he first fully expounded in 1993 in The McDonaldisation of Society, since when he has published a number of papers which take the thesis further and on which this book builds....

This is exciting, readable, provocative modern sociology that sets out to challenge the dominant trends in the construction of our brave new global world....

His work constitutes a serious academic challenge from within the very heartland of McDonaldisation and I highly recommend it to those who want to gain a perspective on post-modern society (and

sociology)' - Self & Society

`The new book will underline the importance and usefulness of the concept of McDonaldization and I fully expect that it will become a standard topic for years to come.. Fascinating, it will make an ideal focus for lectures, seminars and so on' - Alan Bryman, Loughborough University

``McDonaldization' I came to appreciate long ago - it is by now a household term!' Professor Zygmunt Bauman, Department of Sociology, University of Leeds.

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