Books by Martin O'Brien

Takes a look at the 'crisis of waste' in modern society and it does so historically, sociologically and critically. This book tells stories about past and present 'crises' of waste and puts them in their appropriate social and industrial contexts.

This volume explores questions of modernity through critical engagements with the work of Anthony Giddens, focusing in particular on the relationships between his social theory and political sociology.

This text looks at the historical and contemporary changes in social welfare systems and provision, and the debates and struggles surrounding them. The perspectives of liberalism, Marxism, neo-liberalism and post-structuralism, are used to provide an introduction to the theoretical frameworks.