A Critical Introduction to Contemporary Social Theory : Key Theories and Theorists of the 21st Century (Hardcover)

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 trends in the sociological theories of 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; the 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; the focus on practices and creative actions

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

14. Jon Elster on continuities in rational choice and the theory of emotions
15. Peter Hedstrom on analytic sociology and the theory of imitation
16. Margaret Archer unravelling the mechanism of social change and morphogenesis
17. Theodor Schatzky on the ontology of society and the idea of social sites
18. Coda: Robert K. Merton revisited; on theoretical pluralism and disciplined eclecticism

Bibliography