The Self, War, and Society

"George Herbert Mead (1863-1931) is a central founder of the field of sociology. Mead's theory of war, peace, and society emerged out of the historical events of his time, particularly World War I. During this time Mead went from being a pacifist, along with his contemporaries John Dewey and Jane Addams, to being a strong advocate for war. During America's participation in World War I, from 1917-1918, Mead became a public and intellectual leader on the need for war based on his theory of self and society. After the war, he became disillusioned with President Woodrow Wilson, Americans' failure to support mechanisms for international arbitration, and the political reasons for American participation in World War I. Mead also returned to a more pacifist and co-operative model of behavior during the 1920s, he became less political, more abstract, and more withdrawn from public debates than he was prior to the conflict. The book includes Deegan's interpretation of Mead's early social thought, his friendship and family networks, the historical context of America at war, and the importance of analysis of violence and the state from Mead's perspective. Deegan also provides illustrative selections from Mead's work, much of which was previously unpublished."--BOOK JACKET.