Social Theory: Continuity and Confrontation, a Reader

by Roberta Garner (Editor)

This new reader in social theory offers substantial selections from the classic texts alongside unusal and thought-provoking examples of theory in action. The organization of the reader and Garner's short introductions to selections enable students to understand the historical flow of social theory, to trace continuities in theory, and to see how disagreements and confrontations shape theory. Her introductions, written in clear, down-to-earth language, highlight links abong theorists. She shows that theoretical traditions are not rigidly separated from one another, but are always in conversation - addressing and challenging each other. She discusses how changes in society bring about changes in theories and notes the relationship between theories and research methods. Attention is given throughout the book to counter-currents, as well as mainstream social thought. Designed to be easily read in conjunction with most theory texts currently available, selections in the book are written by theorists from a range of national origins and cultural backgrounds. Their writings trace the emergence and elaboration of key concepts such as power, class, ethnicity, and gender inequalities; hegemony; interaction; and structure and function. Readings on culture, the media, technology, and globalization are included. Featured theorists include Marx, Durkheim, Weber, Simmel, Mead, DuBois, the Chicago School, Benjamin, Gramsci, Mills, McLuhan, Bourdieu, Habermas, Giddens, Foucault, symbolic interactionists, William Julius Wilson, Paul Willis, Dorothy Smith, Theda Skocpol, Fredric Jameson, and Stuart Hall.

592 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2000

Reviews

[Andrew Gagne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a good source of sociological thoery, history and understanding. I recommend it to anyone in the undergrad sociology program.

[Sumeyya · Rating 3 out of 5]

In-depth examination of sociological theories from Marx, Durkheim, and Weber, along with Machiavelli, Burke, Comte, Zeitlin, and dozens others. Heavy book, heavy reading, though admittedly, Garner's intros to each section sheds more than just a light on the different authors and their materials, especially Weber's which I found to be particularly sleep inducing.
(Sorry.)

[Umar]

great primer