Perspectives in Sociology

From its first edition in 1979, "Perspectives in Sociology" has provided generations of undergraduates with a clear, reassuring introduction to the complications of sociological theory. This revised and updated edition features: a concise introduction to the major debates of the twentieth century, placing them in historical and philosophical context; information on thinkers of the nineteenth and early twentieth century whose relevance to modern social thought is only now being recognized, e.g. Nietszche, Saussure, Simmel; connections drawn between post-structuralist thinkers like Foucault and Derrida and the founding figures of sociology - Marx, Weber and Durkheim; and a completely rewritten chapter on the 'Synthesisers' - Bourdieu, Habermas and Giddens - and their attempts to generate a consensus from the apparently conflicting theories of their predecessors. The book also features: a new chapter reviewing the rise of British sociology, with particular reference to the political context and the changing role of 'class' in sociological thinking; and a new chapter describing the attempts of sociological theorists to explain current concerns, problems, and issues in the areas of gender, (homo)sexuality, and ethnicity in the context of the postcolonial world. While retaining its emphasis and wealth of information on the founding figures of sociology, this fifth edition now features a new easy-to-read format, (with particular attention paid to the linking and cross-referencing of chapters), and includes much new material on contemporary social theory with particular reference to its attempts to tackle current problems and issues in the areas of gender, sexuality, and ethnicity in the postcolonial context.

ISBN 0415301114   Pages 408 ISBN13 9780415301114 (What's this?)   Volumes 1 Publisher Taylor & Francis Ltd   Weight (grammes) 848 Imprint Routledge   Published in London Format Paperback   Previous ISBN 9780415159791 Publication date 01 Apr 2005   Height (mm) 246 Library of Congress 2006003865   Width (mm) 174 DEWEY 301   Spine width (mm) 22 DEWEY edition DC22   Academic level General

1		Introduction : rethinking sociology		1
2		Karl Marx		9
3		Max Weber		35
4		Emile Durkheim		58
5		Consensus and conflict		83
6		Symbolic interaction		111
7		Ethnomethodology		143
8		Western Marxism		175
9		Structuralism		196
10		Poststructuralism : abandoning reason		231
11		Michel Foucault		253
12		Poststructuralism and postmodernity		276
13		Back to sociological theory? : theoreticism and synthesis		302
14		From class to culture : a historical sketch		347
15		Emancipatory sociology : feminism, queer theory and postcolonial theory		367
16		Conclusion		396

"The book is outstanding in its penetration and coverage of the main streams in sociological/social theory."-Serena Bufton, Sheffield Hallam University "A new edition is timely. There have been many substantial changes in the discipline. The opening up of new concerns and the questioning of established perspectives and methodologies. I think that this new edition captures effectively the nature of these new concerns, takes the debate forward, and presents them usefully to new undergraduates."-David Newton, Staffordshire University

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