A Critical Introduction to Contemporary Social Theory

Key Theories and Theorists of the 21st Century
1. Auflage 2025
ISBN: 978-1-032-75612-7
Verlag: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Buch, Englisch, 260 Seiten, Format (B × H): 174 mm x 233 mm, Gewicht: 404 g

Examining the core sociological theories that have emerged in the first two decades of the current century, A Critical Introduction to Contemporary Social Theory outlines their attempts to answer the most fundamental questions of the discipline, from the nature of social order to the mechanisms of social change.

Through a careful exploration of the history of modern social theory, Piotr Sztompka lays the critical groundwork for investigating the development of contemporary social theory from its founding fathers in the 19th century, through the rich contributions of the 20th century, known as "the golden age of theory," up to the most recent developments and illuminates how it is both anchored in and a critique of previous attempts to theorize foundational questions to social being and action. Contemporary theory, the book argues, is now moving toward analysis of action, interpersonal relations, social and epistemological realism, and multivalent mechanisms at the root of social phenomenon.

Major social theoretical thinkers like Anthony Giddens, Pierre Bourdieu, Jeffrey Alexander, Randall Collins, Jonathan Turner, Hans Joas, Ulrich Beck, Erving Goffman, and others are presented and evaluated as significant contributors to contemporary social theory, while pointing toward future possibilities for social theory in the current century. This will be a key resource for undergraduate and graduate students in sociology, social theory, and contemporary cultural studies.

Zielgruppe

Academic and Undergraduate Advanced

Autoren/Hrsg.

Sztompka, Piotr

Fachgebiete

• Sozialwissenschaften Soziologie | Soziale Arbeit Spezielle Soziologie Wirtschaftssoziologie, Arbeitssoziologie, Organisationssoziologie
• Sozialwissenschaften Soziologie | Soziale Arbeit Soziale Gruppen/Soziale Themen Soziale Gruppen & Klassen
• Sozialwissenschaften Soziologie | Soziale Arbeit Soziologie Allgemein Gesellschaftstheorie

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Preface

Part I: The legacy: On the shoulders of giants

1. Sociological theory: The concepts, varieties, and uses
2. Pseudo-theories and pseudo-epistemology
3. The Long 19th century on the shoulders of giants
4. The Golden Era of Theory: The 20th century
5. New theoretical trends in the 21st century

Part II: Continuities and emerging new trends

Theories With a Moral Message; In Search for a Good Society

6. Jeffrey C. Alexander’s cultural sociology: From civil sphere to performative actions and societalization
7. Gary Allan Fine on tiny publics: Civil sphere at the micro-level of everyday life
8. Axel Honneth on new critical theory: Focus on recognition
9. Ulrich Beck on cosmopolitanism: World society after globalization
10. Allain Caille on gift paradigm: Focus on reciprocity

Theories Of Microcomponents of Social Life: Dissecting the Social Fabric

11. Jonathan Turner on radical microsociology: Interactions and their emotional syntax
12. Randall Collins’ processual and emotional perspective: interactive ritual chains, violence, and charisma
13. Hans Joas on new pragmatism: Focus on practices and creative actions

Theories Analyzing Mechanisms of Social Events: Unravelling the Modus Operandi Of Society

14. Jon Elster on rational choice and emotions: Continuities and revisions
15. Peter Hedstrom on analytical sociology: Social mechanisms and the theory of imitation
16. Margaret Archer on morphogenesis: Unravelling themechanism of social change
17. Theodor Schatski and the idea of social sites: On the ontology of society
18. Robert K. Merton revisited: On theoretical pluralism and disciplined eclecticism

Bibliography

Über Autor(innen)

Piotr Sztompka is an honorary professor of sociology at the Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Poland, He was a visiting professor at Columbia University (NY) and the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA), as well as universities in Europe, Australia, and Latin America. He was elected the President of International Sociological Association (ISA). Among his books published in English are Sociological Dilemmas: Toward a Dialectic Paradigm (1979), The Sociology of Social Change (1993), Society in Action: The Theory of Social Becoming (1991), and Trust: a Sociological Theory (1999).