Investigating the Sociological Relationship in the Post-Structural and Post-Modern Era with Regard to Critical Theory

In this paper, the sociological landscape after post-structuralism and postmodernism is explored, using critical theory as the analytical lens. In this paper, the ways in which these ideas have influenced and changed our knowledge of power, identity and discourse will be explored by using the ideas of key thinkers such as Michel Foucault, Jean-François Lyotard and Jacques Derrida. Critical theory from the Frankfurt School, which challenges these perspectives for lacking a stable normative foundation while at the same time advocating for fluidity and decentralization of social structures does not surprise. Qualitative analytical approach is adopted for this research and the tensions and intersections between these frameworks are examined. The findings of the study reveal that while postmodern thought disrupts rigid social hierarchies, critical theory offers vital resources for analyzing power dynamics and ideological structures. Thus, this paper aims at a more nuanced understanding of contemporary social interactions and fresh insights for critical social inquiry by bridging these perspectives.