An Introduction to Classical and Contemporary Social Theory: A Critical Perspective

This book provides a much needed critical perspective for an analysis of the works of some of the major classical and contemporary social theorists of the late nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Designed to stimulate interest in the beginning sociology student to examine the critical issues raised by these theorists, the book is intended as a text in introductory sociology and social theory courses to further familiarize students with the perspectives of some of the most prominent social theorists of our time. The twenty-one chapters that make up this book were designed to be brief, concise, and to the point, expressed whenever possible in the words of the theorists themselves, so that the central ideas can be presented in their original form. In this sense, this brief introductory theory book serves as an initial stepping-stone to more in-depth analysis of theorists usually covered in more advanced social theory texts.

Table of Contents:
Chapter 1 Marx and Engels on Social Class and Class Struggle Chapter 2 Durkheim on Society and the Social Order Chapter 3 Weber on Bureaucracy, Power, and Social Status Chapter 4 Pareto, Mosca, and Michels on Elites and Masses Chapter 5 Cooley and Mead on Human Nature and Society Chapter 6 Freud on the Development of Society and Civilization Chapter 7 Gramsci and Lenin on Ideology, the State, and Revolution Chapter 8 Kollantai on Class, Gender, and Patriarchy Chapter 9 Du Bois and Frazier on Race, Class, and Social Emancipation Chapter 10 Parsons, Merton, and Functionalist Theory Chapter 11 Mills on the Power Elite Chapter 12 Domhoff on the Power Structure and the Governing Class Chapter 13 Althusser, Poulantzas, and Miliband on Politics and the State Chapter 14 Trimberger, Block, and Skocpol and Neo-Weberian Theorizing Chapter 15 Homans on Social Exchange Chapter 16 Goffman and Garfinkel on Dramaturgy, Ethnomethodology, and Everyday Life Chapter 17 Wilson and Willie on Race, Class, and Poverty Chapter 18 Recent Developments in Contemporary Feminist Theory Chapter 19 Wallerstein and World-Systems Theory Chapter 20 Therborn and Szymanski on Contemporary Marxist Theory Chapter 21 Harvey and Callinicos on Postmodernism and Its Critique Chapter 22 Conclusion

About the Author :
Berch Berberoglu is foundation professor and director of graduate studies in the Department of Sociology at the University of Nevada, Reno, where he has been teaching and conducting research for the past twenty-eight years. Dr. Berberoglu has authored and edited twenty-two books and many articles in numerous scholarly journals. His recent books include Class Structure and Social Transformation (Praeger), The National Question: Nationalism, Ethnic Conflict, and Self-Determination in the 20th Century (Temple University Press), Turmoil in the Middle East: Imperialism, War, and Political Instability (State University of New York Press), Labor and Capital in the Age of Globalization (Rowman & Littlefield), Globalization of Capital and the Nation State (Rowman & Littlefield) and Nationalism and Ethnic Conflict (Rowman & Littlefield).

Review :
An Introduction to Classical and Contemporary Social Theory is an extremely well written and accessible book. It has the clear advantages over most books in this field of providing a broad overview of the development of modern social theory and including many social thinkers not often covered in typical or mainstream sociological theory texts. -- Steve Seidman, SUNY, Albany In this fine book, Berberoglu offers the perfect combination of well chosen primary source material and expert guidance through the difficult aspects of social theory. The writing is engaging, knowledgeable, and accessible for both undergraduate and graduate students. -- Judy Aulette, University of North Carolina, Charlotte