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Introducing the founders of sociological theory from Marx, Weber, Durkheim and Martineau through to Simmel, DuBois, Mead and others this accessible textbook locates each thinker within their own social, political and historical context. By doing so, it helps readers to understand the development of central sociological concepts and how they can help us understand the contemporary world.
The book includes:
- Lively biographical sections to help readers get to know each thinker
- Clear and easy-to-understand accounts of each theorist s arguments - and the most common criticisms
- Key concept boxes highlighting the most influential ideas
This comprehensive, enlightening text brings the rich and diverse field of classical sociological theory to life.
List of contents
Plato and Aristotle
Confucius and Ibn Khaldun
Tocqueville and Martineau
Hegel
Marx
Weber
Durkheim
Simmel
Pareto, Mosca and Michels
Hintze, Gumplowicz, Ratzenhofer, Ward and Small
Du Bois
Mead
About the author
Steven Loyal is an Associate Professor in Sociology at University College Dublin
Sinisa Malesevic is Professor and Head/Chair of UCD School of Sociology. Previously, he held research and teaching appointments at the Institute for International Relations (Zagreb), the Centre for the Study of Nationalism, CEU (Prague) and at the National University of Ireland, Galway. He also held visiting research fellowships at the London School of Economics and the Institute for Human Sciences (Vienna). He is also a Member of the Royal Irish Academy. Professor Malesevic is a comparative historical and political sociologist whose main research interests include the study of war and organized violence, ethnicity and nationalism, ideology, as well as sociological theory. He has authored six books and has edited or co-edited another five volumes. He has also authored over 60 peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters.
Summary
Introduces readers to the key figures and founders of sociological theory, including Marx, Weber, Durkheim and Martineau - locating each thinker within their own social, political and historical context and helping readers use these ideas to understand the contemporary world.
Report
I can enthusiastically recommend this thoughtful new survey of classical theorists. Many Western sociologists have argued for broadening the traditional Eurocentric masculine canon: Loyal and Male evic have actually acted on this. They have addressed those Ancient and Modern writers whose historical context led them to analyse in depth the nature of social reality. Here the great tradition is intriguingly extended - to Confucius, Aristotle and Ibn Khaldun, de Tocqueville, Harriet Martineau and W.E.B. Du Bois - their master ideas being conveyed succinctly, without once lapsing into vulgarisation. Bridget Fowler, Emeritus Professor of Sociology, University of Glasgow. 20200403
