Introduction: The Architecture of Distribution 1 Towards a Sociology of the Cold War 2 Poison and Meat: The Distribution of Food 3 Netflixization: The Distribution of Education 4 Chains of Approval: The Distribution of Technology 5 The Conspiracy of Theory: The Distribution of Information 6 Strategies of Containment: Distribution in Contemporary Cold War Media Conclusion: Political Anthropology of Distribution
Biography
Alex Wade is Research Degrees Director for Education in the Department of Social Sciences at Birmingham City University, UK. He is the author of two previous books on the sociology of media histories: Playback: A Genealogy of 1980s British Videogames and The Pac‑Man Principle: A User’s Guide to Capitalism.
'Cold War Sociology is an intriguing analysis of how Cold War dynamics continue to shape contemporary society. Far more than a historical account, this book offers a sharp sociological lens on the era’s political, technological, and ideological legacies.
The author, Alex Wade, brilliantly argues that distribution was a defining force in Cold War societies, with its impact still visible today. From missile silos and the Internet, to the paradoxes of equality, manifesting in “The drive to treat everyone equally, even – or especially – when everyone is different, is by definition an impossible goal,” this work challenges us to rethink modern structures. Engaging, rigorous, and thought-provoking, this book is essential for scholars and critical thinkers seeking a deeper understanding of the Cold War’s lasting imprint on global politics, economics, and culture.'
Regina Seiwald, Teaching Fellow in Modern Languages, University of Birmingham
'Wide ranging and challenging, this valuable study offers a new way of thinking about a world in crisis. This is an important study that avoids fashionable, simplistic and pessimistic conclusions.'
Mike Gane, Emeritus Professor of Sociology, Loughborough University
