Theoretical Sociology: The Future of a Disciplinary Foundation

Since Durkheim’s influential work a century ago, sociological theory has been among the most integrative and useful tools for social scientists across many disciplines. Sociological theory has nevertheless, due to its usefulness, expanded so very broadly that some wonder whether the concept of "general theory," or even the attempt to link middle-range theories, is still of any use. This book, a collection of top theorists reflecting on the present and future of the craft, addresses this most important question. Taking their lead from Jonathan Turner’s important recent work, and drawing on their own broad experience, Seth Abrutyn and Kevin McCaffree have organized the chapters in this book from the general, integrative and review-focused bookend chapters to more specific chapters on innovations in theory construction at the micro, meso and macro levels. Moreover, the book’s microsociological content on interpersonal violence, solidarity, identity and emotion coheres with chapters in mesosociological dynamics on class, education and networks, which in turn integrate with the chapters on inequality, justice, morality and cultural evolution found in the section on macrosociology. The distinguished contributors share a distinct commitment to the development, innovation and relevance of general sociological theory. This volume is an invaluable sourcebook for advanced students and social science faculty interested in understanding how sociological theory’s past and present are informing its future.

Table of Contents:
Preface Introduction Part 1: Theoretical Sociology 1. Sociology Must Continue to Become More Interdisciplinary 2. Kevin McCaffree on Interdisciplinary Theorizing 3. Evolution as the Key to Process Sociology: Relational Sociology According to History 4. Erika Summers-Effler’s Comments on Evolutionary Analysis 5. The Evolutionary Sociology of Macrodynamics 6. Seth Abrutyn on Macro Theorizing 7. Jonathan Turner’s Macro-Micro-Meso Theory 8. Randall Collins on Micro-Meso-Macro Theorizing Part 2: Foundational Areas of Inquiry 9. Theorizing Nested Group Ties 10. Lawler, Thye and Yoon on Theorizing Nested Group Ties 11. Social Exchange Theory: Current Status and Future Directions 12. Karen S. Cook and Michael Hahn on of Exchange Theory 13. Inequality and Justice 14. Guillermina Jasso on Inequality and Justice 15. The Micro-Sociology of Self and Identity 16. Peter J. Burke and Jan E. Stets on Self and Identity 17. Humanizing Sociological Theory: A 21st Century Solution to a 20th Century Problem Yet to Be Solved 18. Richard Machalek on Bringing Biology Back into Sociology Part 3: The Social Processes of Knowledge Production 19. Reflections on Turner and Theory Development 20. Theoretical Sociology 21. General Impressions about Turner’s Teaching, Research and Influence Section 4: Reflections 22. On Jonathan Turner: A Brief Personal Biography 23. On Becoming and Being a General Theorist in Sociology: A Most Improbable Journey

About the Author :
Seth Abrutyn is Associate Professor in the Department of Sociology at the University of British Columbia. Abrutyn’s theoretical and empirical work examines how local structure and culture shape how we feel, think, and act. His work on suicide has won several national awards and can be found in journals such as the American Sociological Review, Sociological Theory, Journal of Health and Social Behavior and the American Journal of Public Health. Kevin McCaffree is Assistant Professor of Sociology at the University of North Texas, where he teaches graduate courses in research methods and theory. He is the author of four books and several peer-reviewed articles and handbook chapters. His work has appeared in Journal for the Theory of Social Behavior, Religion, Brain and Behavior and Handbook of Contemporary Sociological Theory.