Critique in the Name of What? Postmodernism and Critical Approaches to Organization

Abstract

This paper will relate some of the recent arguments about postmodernism and organization theory to the further development of a critical theory of organiza tions. I will argue that postmodernism is a dangerous, and potentially disabling 'perspective' for critical theorists to adopt and that any emancipatory project is not well served by giving up on notions of 'truth' and 'progress'. Instead, I suggest that 'critical modernism' allows for the relativity of truth claims whilst also providing a reason to write about organizations at all.