Rhetoric, Ideology and Social Psychology

Charles Antaki is Professor of Language and Social Psychology at Loughborough University, UK.Susan Condor is Professor of Social Psychology at Loughborough University, UK.

• 1. Small Words, Large Circles and the Spirit of Contradiction: Celebrating Michael Billig’s Contribution to the Social Sciences Susan Condor 2. Billig on Rhetoric Herbert W. Simons 3. Rhetoric, Cognition and Discursive Psychology Derek Edwards 4. Rhetoric and Argumentation John Shotter 5. Attitudes and the Words We Use J. Richard Eiser 6. Prejudice as Collective Definition: Ideology, Discourse and Moral Exclusion Cristian Tileaga 7. Beyond Belief: The Social Psychology of Conspiracy Theories and the Study of Ideology Jovan Byford 8. In Praise of Activism: Rethinking the Psychology of Obedience and Conformity Stephen Reicher 9. An Ideological Dilemma: The Resurgence of Sexism and the Disappearance of ‘Sexism’ Rosalind Gill 10. Banal Occidentalism Nikos Bozatzis 11. Affect and Banal Nationalism: A Practical Dialogic Approach to Emotion Margaret Wetherell 12. On Music, Politics and Scholarship Christine Griffin 13. Afterword Gustav Jahoda

‘Rhetoric, Ideology and Social Psychology has some solid contributions reviewing Billig’s writings or making the historical connection between the author’s given field of study… The editors state that the book was written for academics and researchers working in sociology, cultural studies, social psychology, communication and media studies, and linguistics. I might add that historians of psychology or the social sciences would find certain chapters valuable given the short References biographical notes from each contributing author.’ - Francis C. Staskon, PsycCRITIQUES, May 2015‘Michael Billig has inspired scientists in many fields to take seriously the words that actual people speak, and which they use to argue on the one hand and on the other. The upending of a social psychology that ignores society, and of a behaviourist method that ignores verbal behaviour, is a noble and necessary project, the fruits of which this volume brilliantly displays.’ - Deirdre N. McCloskey, UIC Distinguished Professor of Economics, History, English, and Communication at the University of Illinois at Chicago, USA‘A wonderful Festschrift for a most remarkable, impressive and influential scholar, for Michael Billig! Michael has contributed to many (all) salient fields in Discourse Studies and Social Psychology, while never taking anything for granted and always proposing new innovative ways of thinking, arguing, debating, joking and writing. This volume manifests the huge influence he has had and continues to have on current research and researchers; and how his ideas have triggered new ideas amongst his former students, colleagues and friends. We are all so grateful for the opportunity to be able to engage with him and his work.’ - Ruth Wodak, Distinguished Professor and Chair in Discourse Studies at Lancaster University, UK‘Michael Billig is one of the most brilliant contemporary psychologists. His highly readable books unerringly home in on key questions that psychologists ought to be asking about humans as social beings, sharply challenging the pervasive fashionable and impoverished reductionism. He shows how even highly topical contemporary issues have deep roots in the history of philosophy and culture and strong resonances with other social sciences. In this Festschrift, papers, that are both contrapuntal to Mick’s work and develop his ideas in innovative ways, honour the powerful influence of Mick’s wisdom, his witty and critical originality, and his profound humanity.’ - Helen Haste, Emeritus Professor of Psychology at the University of Bath, UK