Social Theory and Social History

by Donald M. MacRaild, Avram Taylor (Contributor)

The expansion of social history that took place in the twentieth century has produced some of the most exciting works in the field of historical studies. As the range of the social historian's concerns has grown, so has the range of methodologies and theoretical approaches they employ. Historians have made greater use of the theoretical insights of social scientists, and boundaries between the disciplines have become blurred as a consequence.

Social Theory and Social History :
- Covers the major developments within social history
- Offers an introduction to the most important social theorists
- Discusses the relationship between history and the social sciences
- Considers the use of theory in the writing of history
- Examines current debates within historiography

In this concise introductory guide, Donald M. MacRaild and Avram Taylor explore the complex relationship between social theory and social history, arguing that an awareness of the relation between the two is the key to a deeper understanding of the process of historical change.

216 pages, Paperback

First published November 19, 2004

About the author

Donald MacRaild is Professor of British and Irish History having previously held chairs of History at the Northumbria University and Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand. Prior to that, he held lectureships at the universities of Northumbria and Sunderland. MacRaild was educated at Liverpool Polytechnic where, in 1989, he took a first-class bachelor of arts. In 1993 he was awarded a PhD by Sheffield University, and three years later received a Certificate in Higher Education from the University of Sunderland.

Reviews

[Moaz Elshinawy · Rating 3 out of 5]

أهم فصول الكتاب الثالث والرابع ، أما بقية فصول الكتاب فمتوسطة المستوى.

[Malcolm · Rating 3 out of 5]

There is little in contemporary historiographical discussions that gets people going more than ‘theory’ (except perhaps postmodernism) as many of the more empiricist in the discipline argue that the evidence itself should tell the story – but there is little doubt that the rise since the 1960s of social history has seen a growing explicit interest and reliance on various forms of social theory. This is one of several volumes in a useful series from Palgrave exploring issues to do with history and theory aimed at undergraduates.

MacRaild & Taylor weave together an impressive array of sources and ideas into an engaging and highly readable introductory text to consider and effectively outline social history as linked to historical sociology as well as exploring several of the more discipline specific development – Fernand Braudel’s Histoire Totale, comparative histories in a similar Annales School tradition. In addition there is an excellent discussion of the structure-agency debate including that aspect of it running through British social history and cultural studies in the late 1970s and early 1980s. They conclude by considering the more recent developments linked to the rise of post-modern approaches, the emergence of new forms of cultural history and the importance of mentalités and ideas of ritual.

The book is accessibly written and a good way to begin to explore an important strand of debate in contemporary historiography.

[Djereloz · Rating 4 out of 5]

nice textbook