Lawson, T.

Social Positioning Theory

Cambridge Journal of Economics

Vol. 46(1) pp. 1-39 (2022)

Abstract: The theory of social positioning is an account of social constitution in which organising structure is key. A core component of the theory is a conception of the nature of specifically community structure and the manner whereby human beings and other phenomena are organised through it. The primary objective of this paper is simply to systematise the (continuously evolving) theory, and in particular this core component, as it currently stands. The theory has implications for both substantive social analysis and projects of social transformation. In the current paper, it is (mostly) the theory’s usefulness to the former that is highlighted, through the inclusion of an illustration of how the theory contributes to resolving long standing puzzles at the substantive level, and specifically those connected to the theorising of the nature of money.

Keywords: Social totalities, Communities, Community components, Organisation, Relations, Positions, Powers, Functions, The nature of money

JEL Codes: A10, B00, B10, B20, B30, B40, B50, N00, P00, P10

Author links: Tony Lawson  

Publisher's Link: https://doi.org/10.1093/cje/beab040