You are here

Sociology and the New Materialism
Share

Sociology and the New Materialism
Theory, Research, Action

First Edition


October 2016 | 240 pages | SAGE Publications Ltd

The first book of its kind, Sociology and the New Materialism explores the many and varied applications of “new materialism,” a key emerging trend in 21st century thought, to the practice of doing sociology.

Offering a clear exposition of new materialist theory and using sociological examples throughout to enable the reader to develop a materialist sociological understanding, the book:

  • Outlines the fundamental precepts of new materialism
  • Explores how materialism provides new perspectives on the range of sociological topic areas
  • Explains how materialist approaches can be used to research sociological issues and also to engage with social issues.

Sociology and the New Materialism is a clear and authoritative one-stop guide for advanced undergraduates and postgraduates in sociology, cultural studies, social policy and related disciplines.  

 
PART ONE: New Materialism and the Sociological Imagination
 
Chapter 1: Introduction
 
Chapter 2: Foundations – new materialism and the sociological imagination
 
Chapter 3: Environment – humans, posthumans and ecological sociology
 
Chapter 4: Society – beyond systems, structures and stratification
 
PART TWO: Applying New Materialism Sociologically
 
Chapter 5: Creativity – imagination, social production, social change
 
Chapter 6: Sexuality – desire, intensification, becoming
 
Chapter 7: Emotions – embodiment, continuity and change
 
Chapter 8: Health – beyond the body-with-organs
 
PART THREE: Research, Policy and Activism
 
Chapter 9: Research – designs, methods and the research assemblage
 
Chapter 10: Change – action, policy, social transformation
 
Glossary
 
Bibliography

With their admirably stylish and accessible new book Nick Fox and Pam Alldred have laid out a coherent and compelling set of methodological strategies for thinking with new materialisms in the conduct of novel empirical inquiry. Through a series of case studies that range across ecology, social change, desire and embodiment, health and social policy, the authors establish a unique research assemblage by which new materialist agendas may be advanced across the social sciences. The book ought to be essential reading for anyone interested in how the social sciences should respond to the most compelling social and political problems of our time.  

Cameron Duff
RMIT University

It is beautifully written and a real pleasure to read.

Meg-John Barker
Open University

Very good book. Skilful dissemination of a complicated subject area.

Professor Jens Christian Nielsen
Danish School of Education, Aarhus University
May 13, 2016

This books gives a differentiated overview of the current thematic orientations of approaches in new materialism. Hence offering a thorough overview of new materialist theory and sociological research examples. It is a valuable book for those who are interested in new materialist approaches for studying societal processes.

Mrs Vanessa Weber
Sociology , University of Hamburg
October 24, 2016

For instructors

Please contact your Academic Consultant to check inspection copy availability for your course.

Select a Purchasing Option

ISBN: 9781473942226
£35.99
ISBN: 9781473942219
£106.00

SAGE Knowledge is the premier social sciences platform for SAGE and CQ Press book, reference and video content.

The platform allows researchers to cross-search and seamlessly access a wide breadth of must-have SAGE book and reference content from one source.