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Cited by 1,226Contemporary Sociological Theory and PracticeManagement and Organizational StudiesGerman Social Sciences and History

A world of standards but not a standard world: Toward a sociology of standards and standardization

Timmermans, Stefan, Epstein, Steven·2010·Annual Review of Sociology
DOI 10.1146/annurev.soc.012809.102629
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Abstract

Standards and standardization aim to render the world equivalent across cultures, time, and geography. Standards are ubiquitous but underappreciated tools for regulating and organizing social life in modernity, and they lurk in the background of many sociological works. Reviewing the relevance of standards and standardization in diverse theoretical traditions and sociological subfields, we point to the emergence and institutionalization of standards, the difficulties of making standards work, resistance to standardization, and the multiple outcomes of standards. Rather than associating standardization with totalizing narratives of globalization or dehumanization, we call for careful empirical analysis of the specific and unintended consequences of different sorts of standards operating in distinct social domains.

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Crossref · 10.1146/annurev.soc.012809.102629

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  • The complexity of most CSR initiatives makes it difficult to observe their immediate effects, favoring a short-term orientation or presentism.

    “The complexity of most CSR initiatives makes it difficult to observe their immediate effects, hereby favoring a shortterm orientation (Timmermans & Epstein, 2010) or “presentism” (Skrimshire, 2018: 2).”

    From Timely hypocrisy? Hypocrisy temporalities in CSR communication (2020) · cites this paper as Timmermans & Epstein, 2010

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Authors
Timmermans, S., & Epstein, S.
Affiliations
  • Northwestern University (US)
  • University of California, Los Angeles (US)
ORCID
Venue
Annual Review of Sociology
Publisher
Annual Reviews
Published
2010-06-01
Volume
36
Issue
1
Pages
69-89
ISSN
  • 0360-0572 (ISSN-L)
  • 1545-2115
DOI
10.1146/annurev.soc.012809.102629
OpenAlex
W2124970285
Cited by
1,226
References
3
Citations by year
2026: 126 · 2025: 82 · 2024: 66 · 2023: 84 · 2022: 100 · 2021: 97 · 2020: 115 · 2019: 123 · 2018: 97 · 2017: 76 · 2016: 64 · 2015: 49 · 2014: 56 · 2013: 38 · 2012: 34
FWCI
17.14
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
Annual Review of Sociology (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Contemporary Sociological Theory and Practice
  • Social Sciences › Business, Management and Accounting › Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management › Management and Organizational Studies
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › German Social Sciences and History
Keywords
standards, standardization, resistance to standardization, unintended consequences, globalization, modernity, cultural equivalence

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