Moral panic and the politcs of anxiety / edited by Sean P. Hier.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Introduction : Bringing moral panic studies into focus / Sean P. Hier -- Grounding and defending the sociology of moral panic / Erich Goode and Nachman Ben-Yehuda -- Locating moral panics within the sociology of social problems / Joel Best -- Fractious rivals? Moral panics and moral regulation / Alan Hunt -- Shifting the focus? Moral panics as civilizing and decivilizing processes / Amanda Rohloff -- The objectification of fear and the grammar of morality / Frank Furedi -- How emotions matter to moral panics / Kevin Walby and Dale Spencer -- Folk devils reconsidered / Mary de Young -- The duality of the devil : realism, relationalism and representation / James Meades -- Panic, regulation, and the moralization of British law and order politics / Dan Lett ... [and others] -- Drunken antics : the gin craze, binge drinking and the political economy of moral regulation / Chas Critcher -- The artful creation of global moral panic : climatic folk devils, environmental evangelicals, and the coming catastrophe / Sheldon Ungar -- When harm is done : panic, scandal and blame / Graham Knight and Juliet Roper -- The unhealthy risk society : health scares and the politics of moral panic / Daniel Beĺand.

Moral Panic and the Politics of Anxiety is a collection of original essays written by some of the world{u2019}s leading social scientists. It seeks to provide unique insight into the importance of moral panic as a routine feature of everyday life, whilst also developing an integrated framework for moral panic research by widening the scope of scholarship in the area. Many of the key twenty-first century contributions to moral panic theory have moved beyond the parameters of the sociology of deviance to consider the importance of moral panic for identity formation, national security, industrial risk, and character formation. Reflecting this growth, the book brings together recognized moral panic researchers with prominent scholars in moral regulation, social problems, cultural fear, and health risks, allowing for a more careful and critical discussion around the cultural and political significance of moral panic to emerge. This book will prove valuable reading for both undergraduate and postgraduate students on courses such as politics and the media, regulatory policy, the body and identity, theory and political sociology, and sociology of culture.