Background
Wilensky, Harold L. was born on March 3, 1923 in New Rochelle, New York, United States. Son of Joseph and Mary Jane (Wainsten) Wilensky.
( In this landmark work, the culmination of 30 years of s...)
In this landmark work, the culmination of 30 years of systematic, comprehensive comparison of 19 rich democracies, Wilensky answers two basic questions: (1) What is distinctly modern about modern societies--in what ways are they becoming alike? (2) How do variations in types of political economy shape system performance? He specifies similarities and differences in the structure and interplay of government, political parties, the mass media, industry, labor, professions, agriculture, churches, and voluntary associations. He then demonstrates how differences in bargaining arrangements among these groups lead to contrasting policy profiles and patterns of taxing and spending, which in turn explain a large number of outcomes: economic performance, political legitimacy, equality, job security, safety and risk, real health, the reduction of poverty and environmental threats, and the effectiveness and fairness of regulatory regimes. Drawing on quantitative data and case studies covering the last 50 years and more than 400 interviews he conducted with top decision-makers and advisors, Wilensky provides a richly detailed account of the common social, economic, and labor problems modern governments confront and their contrasting styles of conflict resolution. The result is new light on the likely paths of development of rich democracies as they become richer. Assessing alternative theories, Wilensky offers a powerful critique of such images of modern society as "post-industrial" or "high-tech," "the information age" or the alleged dominance of "globalization." Because he systematically compares all of the rich democracies with at least three million population, Wilensky can specify what is truly exceptional about the United States, what it shares with Britain and Britain abroad (Canada, Australia, New Zealand) and what it shares with all or almost all of the West European democracies, Israel, and Japan. He gives careful attention to which successful social and labor policies are transferable across nations and which are not. Rich Democracies will interest both scholars and practitioners. It combines the perspectives of political economy (the interplay of markets and politics) and political sociology (the social bases of politics). It will be especially useful in courses on comparative political economy, comparative politics, European politics, public policy, political sociology, the welfare state, American government, advanced industrial societies, and industrial relations.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0520232798/?tag=2022091-20
(This prize-winning, foundational book — now in a new edit...)
This prize-winning, foundational book — now in a new edition featuring a 2015 Foreword by Neil Smelser — focuses on the structural and ideological roots of intelligence failures (both informational and analytical) found in government, industry, and other institutions. It provides groundbreaking theory and structure to the analysis of decision-making processes and their breakdowns, as well as the interactions among experts and the organizations they inform. Smelser writes that the book remains “one of the classics in organizational studies,” and “it is still directly relevant to current and future problems of organizational life. … What makes this book a classic? It is a disciplined, intelligent, and elegant model of applied social science. … The text itself, richly documented empirically, yields an informed and balanced account of the decision-making process as this is shaped by the quality of information available (and unavailable) to and used (and not used) by organizational leaders.” Reviews of the book at the time it was written similarly attest to the originality and breadth of its interdisciplinary analysis. Amitai Etzioni wrote in the American Sociological Review: “This book opens a whole new field — the macrosociology of knowledge. It is as different from the traditional sociology of knowledge as the study of interaction is from that of the structure of total societies.” He added, “The power of Wilensky’s contribution is further magnified by his historical perspective. He studies structures and processes, but not in a vacuum.” Gordon Craig wrote in The Reporter that the book’s examples from organizations “show a similar tendency to believe what they want to believe, to become the victims of their own slogans and propaganda, and to resist or to silence warning voices that challenge their assumptions…. In his fascinating analysis of intelligence failures and their causes … in the public and private sectors, Wilensky finds that the most disastrous miscalculations are those which have occurred in the field of governmental operations, especially foreign policy and national security.” The book explains how such highly institutionalized actors are vulnerable to informational pathologies. A compelling new addition to the 'Classics of the Social Sciences' Series from Quid Pro Books.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1610272870/?tag=2022091-20
researcher science professor sociologist
Wilensky, Harold L. was born on March 3, 1923 in New Rochelle, New York, United States. Son of Joseph and Mary Jane (Wainsten) Wilensky.
Student, Goddard College, 1940-1942; AB, Antioch College, 1947; Master of Arts, University of Chicago, 1949; Doctor of Philosophy, University of Chicago, 1955.
Assistant professor sociology, University of Chicago, 1951-1953; assistant professor industrial relations, University of Chicago, 1953-1954; assistant professor sociology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, 1954-1957; associate professor, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, 1957-1961; professor, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, 1961-1962; professor, University of California, Berkeley, 1963-1982; professor political science, University of California, Berkeley, since 1982; research sociologist Institute Industrial Relations, University of California, Berkeley, since 1963; project director Institute International Studies, University of California, Berkeley, 1970-1990; project director, Center for German and European Studies, Berkeley, 1994-1996; project director, Institute Governmental Studies, since 1996. Member research career awards committee National Institute Mental Health, 1964-1967. Consultant in field.
( In this landmark work, the culmination of 30 years of s...)
(This prize-winning, foundational book — now in a new edit...)
(This book is a guide to claims about the proper role of g...)
(Book by Harold L. Wilensky, Lowell Turner)
(Spine taped.This book has soft covers.Ex-library,With usu...)
Fellow American Association for the Advancement of Science. Member American Association of University Professors, International Sociological Association, International Political Science Association, Industrial Relations Research Association (Executive Committee 1965-1968), Society for Study Social Problems (chairman editorial committee), American Political Science Association, American Sociological Association (executive council 1969-1972, Chairman of Commission on information technical and privacy 1970-1972), Council European Studies (steering committee 1980-1983).
Children: Stephen David, Michael Alan, Daniel Lewis.