On the Scientifically Founded Standardization of People

Abstract

Identity discourses in the social sciences as well as in social fluctuations are examined in terms of those power relations that stabilize or question these discourses. Much space in this book is devoted to the critical reconstruction of the emergence of the term ‘identity’ in the context of the term ‘autonomous subject’; they come to the sobering conclusion that both serve as scientific substantiation of societal norms. Initial departures and fluctuations that criticize societal circumstances, for example in terms of nation or gender relations, often remain bound to normalizing categories. The study is overall very thorough, reflective, and structured, reconstructing and deconstructing the background to the highly topical debates on identity.