An
Introduction to Classical and Contemporary Social
Theory An
Introduction to Classical and Contemporary Social
Theory
A Critical Perspective
Third Edition
Berch Berberoglu
"An Introduction to Classical and Contemporary Social Theory is an extremely well written and accessible book. It has the clear advantages over most books in this field of providing a broad overview of the development of modern social theory and including many social thinkers not often covered in typical or mainstream sociological theory texts."—Steve Seidman, SUNY, Albany
"In this fine book, Berberoglu offers the perfect combination of well
chosen primary source material and expert guidance through the difficult aspects
of social theory. The writing is engaging, knowledgeable, and accessible for
both undergraduate and graduate students."—Judy Aulette, University
of North Carolina, Charlotte
This book provides a much needed critical perspective for an analysis of the works of some of the major classical and contemporary social theorists of the late nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Designed to stimulate interest in the beginning sociology student to examine the critical issues raised by these theorists, the book is intended as a text in introductory sociology and social theory courses to further familiarize students with the perspectives of some of the most prominent social theorists of our time.
The twenty-one chapters that make up this book were designed to be brief, concise, and to the point, expressed whenever possible in the words of the theorists themselves, so that the central ideas can be presented in their original form. In this sense, this brief introductory theory book serves as an initial stepping-stone to more in-depth analysis of theorists usually covered in more advanced social theory texts.
* * *
Contents
Preface and Acknowledgments
Introduction
Part I:
Classical Social Theory
1. Marx and Engels on Social Class and Class Struggle
2. Durkheim on Society and the Social Order
3. Weber on Bureaucracy, Power, and Social Status
4. Pareto, Mosca, and Michels on Elites and Masses
5. Cooley and Mead on Human Nature and Society
6. Freud on the Development of Society and Civilization
7. Gramsci and Lenin on Ideology, the State, and Revolution
8. Kollantai on Class, Gender, and Patriarchy
9. Du Bois and Frazier on Race, Class, and Social Emancipation
Part II:
Contemporary Social Theory
10. Parsons, Merton, and Functionalist Theory
11. Mills on the Power Elite
12. Domhoff on the Power Structure and the Governing Class
13. Althusser, Poulantzas, and Miliband on Politics and the State
14. Trimberger, Block, and Skocpol and Neo-Weberian Theorizing
15. Homans on Social Exchange
16. Goffman and Garfinkel on Dramaturgy, Ethnomethodology, and Everyday Life
17. Wilson and Willie on Race, Class, and Poverty
18. Recent Developments in Contemporary Feminist Theory
19. Wallerstein and World-Systems Theory
20. Therborn and Szymanski on Contemporary Marxist Theory
21. Harvey and Callinicos on Postmodernism and Its Critique
Conclusion
Bibliography
Index
About the Author
To read the "Introduction" and "Conclusion" of this book, click here [pdf file]
Publication date: August 2005
ISBN: 0-7425-2493-0 (paper)
0-7425-2492-2 (cloth)
