Full Description
`The strengths of this text are the breadth of theories covered; the integration of gender-related topics - family, work, religion; the use of substantial quotes from primary texts; the consistent inclusion of methodological issues....I have no doubt that it will find a solid position in the field of theory texts' - Kathleen Slobin, North Dakota State UniversityThe popular Pine Forge Press textbook, Sociological Theory, has been broken into two volumes, to meet the needs of lecturers and students. Contemporary Sociological Theory covers developments in the discipline from the 1930s and includes important new voices in social theory, including 14 female theorists. The treatment of individual theories and theorists is balanced with the development of key themes and ideas about social life, including race, class and gender.
Contents
PrefaceA Note to Students1. Introduction to Contemporary Sociological TheoryNineteenth-Century Sociological TheoryDominant Theories and IdeologiesRadical Theory and IdeologyEarly-Twentieth-Century Sociological TheorySociological Theory by the 1930sSECTION I. TWENTIETH-CENTURY FUNCTIONALISM AND BEYOND2. Twentieth-Century FunctionalismTalcott Parsons (1902-1979)Robert K. Merton (1910- )Final Thoughts References3. Systems, Structuration, and ModernityNiklas Luhmann (1927-1998)Anthony Giddens (1938- )Final ThoughtsReferencesSECTION II. CRITICISM, MARXISM, AND CHANGE4. Critical TheoryThe Institute of Social ResearchJurgen Habermas (1929- )Final ThoughtsReferences5. Marxism Since 1930Marxism from 1930 to 1980Marxism Now: Erik Olin Wright (1947- )Final ThoughtsReferences6. Sociocultural Change: Evolution, World System, and RevolutionTwentieth-Century Evolutionism: Elman Service (1915- )World System Theory: Immanuel Wallerstein (1930- )Revolution: Theda Skocpol (1947- )Final ThoughtsReferencesSECTION III. TRANSITIONS AND CHALLENGES7. Mid-Twentieth-Century Sociology Ideological DisputesFacts and ValuesMacro/Micro PerspectivesFeminism and Feminist Sociological TheoryRace and ColonialismFinal ThoughtsReferences8. Symbolic InteractionismThe Interactionist TraditionHerbert Blumer (1900-1987)Erving Goffman (1922-1982)Arlie Russell Hochschild (1940- )Final ThoughtsReferences9. Rational Choice and ExchangeJames S. Coleman, (1926-1995)Final ThoughtsReferences10. Feminist Sociological TheorySociology and FeminismDorothy E. Smith (1926- )Patricia Hill Collins (1948- )Final ThoughtsReferences11. Knowledge, Truth, and PowerMichel Foucault (1926-1984)Final ThoughtsReferences12. Final Thoughts on Contemporary Sociological TheorySociological Theory Since 1930The Future of SocietyThe Future of Sociological TheoryReferencesCreditsIndex