Consumers and consumption

Daniel Welch

Chapter 2 in Research Handbook on the Sociology of Consumption, 2026, pp 21-45 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: The chapter explores the historical uses of the terms “consumption” and “consumers” in popular usage, economics and political discourse, and the development of the understanding of these concepts in the sociology of consumption. Additionally, it discusses the concept of “consumer society” and different framings of the consumer: sovereign consumer; expressive consumer; alienated consumer, citizen-consumer; and responsible consumer. The development of the sociology of consumption is discussed, particularly the cultural turn, the practice turn and recent developments addressing culture, capitalism, sustainable consumption, climate change and ecological crisis. The chapter suggests emerging agendas around elites, class, inequality, wealth, digital consumption, ethical consumption, the Global South, the global middle class and decolonisation. The chapter concludes by framing the task of the sociology of consumption through Polanyi's substantive economy, modes of provision and critique of capitalism.

Keywords: Consumption; Sovereign Consumer; Consumer Society; Practice Theory; Cultural Turn; Sustainable Consumption (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
ISBN: 9781035310500
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