(1) Burrell and Morgan used the terms radical structuralism and radical humanism to distinguish between: (1) research which views society as shaped by social structures and (2) research which puts the individual at the Centre of the picture and society as the creation of individual social actors. However, Hopper and Powell were
(2) reluctant to make such a distinction, preferring to discuss radical theories as one category of accounting research. This is partly due to the problematic nature of the subjective-objective distinction and especially its manifestation in the action-structure debate, which will be below.
(3) Over the years the category which Hopper and Powell termed 'radical theories' has come to be labelled critical accounting research, and we will use that term here. The term is derived from the critical theory of the German philosopher Habermas, who was mentioned earlier. Together with his colleagues in the Frankfurt School Habermas developed the earlier writings of Hegel and Marx to provide a critique of the social order of capitalist countries. Although broader than the labor process perspective of Braverman(1974), both were concerned with social critique intended to inform the class struggle. There are strands of accounting research that draw on the work of both Habermas and Braverman, as well as more directly on the work of Marx(for examples of these three stands of research see Puxty et al. 1987; Hopper et al 1986; and Tinker Neimark, 1987).
(4) Another major strand of critical accounting research has been informed by the French post-structuralist philosopher Foucault(for example Miller and o Leary 1987). Although not within the same Marxist tradition, Foucault was always politically engaged and as such has to be classified here. Table 2.5 contains an adapted list of the dominant assumptions of critical accounting research, as identified by Chua(1986)
(5) As a comparison of Tables 2 2.4 and 2.5 will indicate, there are underlying accounting research epistemological and ontological difference between mainstream and the interpretive and critical alternatives, as well as differences in political ideology. These alternatives will be further discussed in the later chapters dealing with accounting and financial accounting. the traditions of research in management As already mentioned, it is important to emphasize that the above classification is useful in simplifying the discussion of a very complex area. But it carries with it the