This comprehensive collection of classical sociological theory is a definitive guide to the roots of sociology from its undisciplined beginnings to its current influence on contemporary sociological debate. Explores influential works of Marx, Durkheim, Weber, Mead, Simmel, Freud, Du Bois, Adorno, Marcuse, Parsons, and Merton Editorial introductions lend historical and intellectual perspective to the substantial readings Includes a new section with new readings on the immediate "pre-history" of sociological theory, including the Enlightenment and de Tocqueville Individual reading selections are updated throughout

Combines the major writings of sociology's core contemporary theorists with a historical and theoretical framework for understanding these works. This text enables students to compare and contrast core concepts and ideas, stresses contemporary applications and examples, and provides a variety of visuals and pedagogical devices.

Sociology is experiencing what can only be described as hyperdifferentiation of theories - there are now many approaches competing for attention in the intellectual arena . From this perspective, we should see a weeding out of theories to a small number, but this is not likely to occur because each of the many theoretical perspectives has a resource base of adherents. As a result, theories in sociology do not compete head on with each other as much as they coexist. This seminal reference work was brought together with an eye to capturing the diversity of theoretical activity in sociology - specifically the forefront of theory. Contributors describe what they themselves are doing right now rather than what others have done in the past. The goal of this volume is to allow prominent theorists working in a variety of traditions - who wouldn't usually come together - to review their work. The chapters in this volume represent a mix of theoretical orientations and strategies, but these these theories are diverse and represent the prominent theoretical discussions in sociology today. Some areas included are: Section I: Theoretical Methodologies and Strategies Section II: The Cultural Turn in Sociological Theorizing Section III: Theorizing Interaction Processes Section IV: Theorizing from the Systemic and Macrolevel Section V: New Directions in Evolutionary Theorizing Section VI: Theorizing on Power, Conflict, and Change SectionVII: Theorizing from Assumptions of Rationality This handbook will be of interest to those wanting a broad spectrum and overview of late 20th - early 21st century sociological theory.

Contemporary Sociological Theory and Its Classical Roots: The Basics is a brief survey of sociology′s major theorists and theoretical approaches, from the Classical founders to the present.

This first edition of Sociological Theory - From the Classical to the Contemporary by John Leveille provides a thorough but highly accessible, mainstream introduction to the main sociological theories both past and present. While the book presents a rich and detailed description of the theories, complex ideas are presented in a simple, conversational writing style that makes the material readily understandable to undergraduates. The book is designed to foster in the reader not only a knowledge of the particular theories themselves but an understanding of some of the thorny conceptual issues and themes related to theory construction in general. Many examples from popular culture and current events, from Black Lives Matter to Hollywood movies, are used throughout the book to illustrate the ideas of the theorists and to highlight the relevant conceptual issues being raised. At select points, the author offers brief discussions and contemporary evaluations of some of the more contentious points raised by the various theorists both past and present. The book includes features that may assist the reader in learning sociological theory and in learning to think theoretically: Biographical sketches of the major theorists; Offset boxes with anecdotal comments about notable features of the theorists' biographies and their relationship to one or another engaging or provocative theme; Lists of discussion questions appear at the end of each chapter; Examples from popular culture and current events, including Black Lives Matter, the authoritarian presidency of Trump, Hollywood movies, and others, are included throughout to illustrate theoretical ideas. The book covers many of the more important theorists. It is organized into three parts. In the first part, the classical theories of Marx, Weber, and Durkheim are described. (Simmel is also presented here.) The second part focuses on theories that arose in the middle of the twentieth century. Here we cover: Parsons, Merton; Mead and symbolic interactionism, phenomenology and ethnomethodology; the conflict theories of Dahrendorf and Collins, and the Marxists theories of Gramsci and Lukacs; the critical theory of the Frankfurt School; and rational choice and exchange theories of Coleman, Homans, Blau, Emerson, and others. The third part of the book describes more recent and contemporary approaches: Integrative theories of Bourdieu, Habermas, and Giddens; postmodern theories of Foucault and Baudrillard; critical race and gender theories and queer theories -- Butler, Smith, Du Bois, Fanon, Said, and others; and, theories of the present -- which means current theories often focused on globalization and the environment. This last chapter describes the ideas of such scholars as Wallerstein, Castells, and others.

The ninth edition of Sociological Theory by George Ritzer gives readers a comprehensive overview of the major theorists and schools of sociological thought. Key theories are integrated with biographical sketches of theorists, and are placed in their historical and intellectual context. Written by one of the foremost authorities on sociological theory, this text helps students better understand the original works of classical and modern theorists, and enables them to compare and contrast the latest substantive concepts.

The revised third edition of the text that combines classical and contemporary theories of sociological theory Thoroughly revised and updated, the third edition of an Introduction to Sociological Theory offers an in-depth introduction to classical and contemporary theories, and demonstrates their relevance to offer a clear understanding of a broad range of contemporary issues and topics. As with the previous editions, the text continues to combine carefully selected primary quotations from a broad range of theorists with extensive discussion and illustrative examples from a diverse range of countries, helpful timelines of important and thematically relevant events, biographical notes, contemporary topic boxes, analytical photos, and chapter glossaries. The text addresses topics such as the persistence of economic and social inequality, Brexit, post-truth society, same-sex marriage, digital surveillance and the on-demand gig economy. Written in an engaging style, Introduction to Sociological Theory offers a comprehensive introduction to the pluralistic breadth and wide-ranging applicability of sociological theory. This updated edition of the authoritative text: Contains both classical and contemporary theories in a single text Builds on excerpts from original theoretical writings with detailed discussion of the concepts and ideas under review Includes new examples of current empirical topics such as Brexit, Donald Trump’s presidency, China’s growing economic power, global warming, intersectionality, social media, and much more Offers additional resources including a website that contains multiple choice and essay questions, a thoroughly refreshed set of PowerPoint slides for each chapter with multimedia links to content illustrative of sociological processes, a list of complementary primary readings, a quotation bank, and other background materials Written for undergraduate courses in contemporary and classical sociological theory, the third edition of an Introduction to Sociological Theory continues to provide a comprehensive, in-depth, and empirically engaging, introduction to sociological theory.

Social theory is central to the disciplines of sociology, cultural studies, criminology and media studies. Many students, however, find it difficult to relate theory to their other courses, projects, dissertations and theses, let alone imagine themselves producing theory. In contrast to conventional social theory textbooks that restrict themselves to the description and analysis of theories and what other professionals have said about them, this innovative book shows students how to use, criticise and contribute to the development of theory. Treating theory as a variety of ‘visual work’ that is intimately connected with the process of empirical investigation, and with the help of clear diagrams and carefully chosen quotations, Part 1 provides an exceptionally clear introduction to the different ways of practicing social theory. Part 2 provides a practical example of how to theorise by producing and demonstrating the effectiveness of a new concept of reflexivity in the course of an outline of the history of the development of social theory since 1945. This is important reading for students and researchers in sociology and related fields.