Government, Social Science and the Concept of Society

This project explores the concept of society as deployed in the two closely-related contexts of social sciences and government, with a particular focus on its use with reference to subject populations. It examines how the meaning of the concept has varied since its original employment in the study and government of Western states. It is the first major study of its type carried out on this foundational concept, and is especially significant in bringing together data from both social sciences and government. The expected outcome is two substantial monographs, one edited book and a number of journal articles and book chapters.