A Primer in Social and Sociological Theory

Kenneth Allan - University of North Carolina at Greensboro, USA

Other Titles in:
Social Theory | Sociology (General)

May 2010 | 288 pages | SAGE Publications, Inc

This book equips students with skills in critical thinking and theory built around nine central ideas of thought: modernity, society, self, religion, capitalism, power, gender, race, and globalization. Coverage of both classical and contemporary theorists are included, and the text is organized around the discourses of modernity, democracy, and citizenship. The end of chapter exercises build on one another and students are guided to higher order thinking and theorizing skills to formulate their own definitions, analyses, interpretations, evaluations, and syntheses of theory.

1. Modernity, Democracy, and the Making of a Civic Sociologist

The Making of Modernity—Social Factors and Intellectual Ideas

America and the First Sociologists

Modern Institutions

Civic Sociology and the Craft of Citizenship

The Craft of Citizenship

2. Society

The Evolution of Society—Herbert Spencer

Culture and Society—Talcott Parsons

The System of Civil Society—Jeffrey C. Alexander

The Craft of Citizenship

3. Self

Creating the Self—George Herbert Mead

Performing the Self—Erving Goffman

The Language and Reality of the Self—R. S. Perinbanayagam

The Craft of Citizenship

4. Religion

The Religious Basis of Society—Émile Durkheim

Modern Religion—Robert Bellah

The God of War

The Craft of Citizenship

5. Capitalism

Contradictions of Capitalism—Karl Marx

Colonization of Democracy—Jürgen Habermas

Capitalism and the Body —Pierre Bourdieu

The Craft of Citizenship

6. Power

The Fundamental Contours of Power—Max Weber

Organizing Power—Ralf Dahrendorf

The Practices of Power—Michel Foucault

The Craft of Citizenship

7. Gender

The Root Causes of Gender Inequality—Charlotte Perkins Gilman

Structuring Gender Inequality—Janet Chafetz

Consciousness and the Relations of Ruling—Dorothy E. Smith

The Craft of Citizenship

8. Race

Double Consciousness—W.E.B. Du Bois

Race and Class—William Julius Wilson

Market Moralities and Black Nihilism—Cornel West

The Craft of Citizenship

9. Globalization

Runaway Modernity—Anthony Giddens

Global Capitalism—Immanuel Wallerstein

The Network Society—Manuel Castells

The Craft of Citizenship

I used this text in spring 2012 - adopted it because of the applied approach to citizenship.

JoAnna Kelly

Social Behavioral Sciences Div, Walsh University

January 3, 2013

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An essential text for anyone exploring sociological theory. Clearly written text which gives ample explanations for theoretical concepts in practice.

Dr Caroline Lohmann-Hancock

Social Justice & Inclusion, University of Wales, Trinity Saint David

April 23, 2012

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Provides the student with a comprehensive overview of theory which underpins sociology and the issues that effect our world today.

Ms Eileen Farrell

Wexford Campus, Institute of Technology Carlow

March 8, 2012

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stimulating but accessible

Dr Karen Smith

Sch of Soc Sciences and Legal Studies, Dublin Institute of Technology

November 8, 2011

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In some aspects this book advance, but in the case or taking example too simple (Race, Religion and Globalization), if for the next publishing may the author and editorial team should be add more case may be from asia, arab, africa. in my class we also have such problems like I mention above, so better to develop this book to be more advance. thank you

Dr Abdullah Sumrahadi

COLGIS, Northern University of Malaysia (UUM)

October 10, 2011

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Connection to citizenship and theory; more applicable for students in their real worlds

Dr Yvonne J Combs

Political and Social Science, Lander University

August 23, 2011

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