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Introducing social theory
2018
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This revised edition of Pip Jones, Liz Bradbury and Shaun Le Boutillier s extremely popular introduction to social theory has been carefully and thoroughly updated with the latest developments in this continually changing field. - (Gardners)

This revised edition of this extremely popular introduction to social theory has been carefully and thoroughly updated with the latest developments in this continually changing field. Written in a refreshingly lucid and engaging style, Introducing Social Theory provides readers with a wide-ranging, well organized and thematic introduction to all the major thinkers, issues and debates in classical and contemporary social theory.

Introducing Social Theory traces the development of social theorizing from the classical ideas about modernity of Durkheim, Marx and Weber, right up to a uniquely accessible review of the contemporary theoretical controversies in sociology that surround post-colonialism, gender and feminist theories, and public sociology.

The ideal textbook for students of sociology at all levels, from A-level to undergraduates, Introducing Social Theory is remarkably easy to follow and understand. This new edition lives up to its predecessors' goal that students need never be intimidated by social theory again.

- (WILEY)

Author Biography

Pip Jones is a former Principal Lecturer in Sociology at Anglia Ruskin University
Liz Bradbury is a Principal Lecturer in Sociology at Anglia Ruskin University

- (WILEY)

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Table of Contents

Acknowledgements ix
1 An Introduction to Sociological Theories
1(30)
Introduction
1(4)
Society as a structure of rules
5(1)
Structural-consensus theory
6(4)
Society as a structure of inequality
10(1)
Structural-conflict theory
11(5)
Society as the creation of its members
16(1)
Action theory
17(5)
Modernity
22(4)
Modernism and sociology
26(1)
Mapping modernity
27(2)
Further reading
29(2)
2 Marx and Marxism
31(29)
Introduction
31(1)
Philosophical interpretations of social change
32(3)
Marx and historical materialism
35(5)
The superstructure
40(4)
The contradictions of capitalist economies
44(1)
Marxism after Marx
45(2)
Gramsci
47(2)
The Frankfurt School of critical theory
49(4)
Marxism in contemporary society
53(4)
Conclusion
57(1)
Further reading
58(2)
3 Max Weber
60(21)
Introduction
60(1)
Social action theory
61(1)
Types of action
62(1)
Types of inequality
62(1)
Types of power
63(2)
Ideal types and sociological theorizing
65(1)
Religion, capitalism and rationalization
66(3)
Bureaucracy and rationalization
69(3)
Rationalization after Weber
72(8)
Further reading
80(1)
4 Emile Durkheim
81(21)
Introduction
81(2)
A science of society
83(2)
Social structure
85(2)
The laws of society
87(2)
Functionalism
89(2)
Religion and society
91(3)
The politics of sociological knowledge
94(3)
Parsons' functionalist sociology
97(4)
Further reading
101(1)
5 Interpretive Sociology: Action Theories
102(22)
Introduction
102(1)
Symbolic interactionism
103(3)
Labelling theory
106(8)
Ethnomethodology
114(5)
Pragmatism
119(2)
Language and social life
121(1)
Further reading
122(2)
6 Language, Discourse and Power in Modernity: Jurgen Habermas and Michel Foucault
124(28)
Introduction
124(1)
Habermas and modernity
125(2)
Habermas and communicative rationality
127(3)
Foucault, structuralism and discourse theory
130(1)
Foucault and post-structuralism
131(2)
Discourse theory
133(2)
Discourses and modernity
135(1)
Bio-medicine
136(2)
Body-centredness in modernity
138(1)
Self-surveillance
139(1)
Governmentality
140(2)
Foucauldian theory and the project of modernity
142(1)
Foucault and feminism
143(2)
Governmentality and agency
145(1)
Postmodernism
146(2)
Intellectuals and political debate
148(3)
Further reading
151(1)
7 Social Structures and Social Action
152(26)
Introduction
152(2)
Bourdieu's genetic structuralism
154(5)
Science, language and interpretation
159(4)
Critical realism
163(4)
Anthony Giddens' structuration theory
167(6)
Pragmatist criticisms of foundational theories
173(3)
Conclusion
176(1)
Further reading
177(1)
8 Feminist and Gender Theories
178(22)
Introduction
178(5)
Feminist theories and Women's Liberation
183(3)
Anti-essentialism
186(1)
Feminist modernity
187(4)
Gender relationships and power
191(3)
Theory and politics
194(1)
Post-structuralism and the politics of gender
195(4)
Further reading
199(1)
9 Sociology and Its Publics
200(15)
Globalization
201(2)
Cosmopolitanism and its critics
203(4)
Parochial or provincialized sociology?
207(6)
Further reading
213(2)
Bibliography 215(17)
Glossary 232(10)
Index 242

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