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A Beginner's Guide to Social Theory
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A Beginner's Guide to Social Theory

First Edition

Other Titles in:
Social Theory

November 2002 | 280 pages | SAGE Publications Ltd
`This book is accessible, as a beginner's guide should be, but without an over-simplification of the arguments. It should prove an immensely durable text for generations of students to come' - John Hughes, Lancaster University

At last, a book that makes social theory for undergraduates a pleasure to teach and study. The book offers a comprehensive overview of social theory from classical sociology to the present day. Students are guided through the work of Durkheim, Marx and Weber, functionalism, action perspectives, feminism, postmodernism and contemporary thinkers like Anthony Giddens, Michel Foucault, J[um]urgen Habermas, Frederic Jameson, Judith Butler, Gilles Deluze, Manuel Castells, Luce Irigary, Naomi Woolf and Camille Paglia. The book presents clear accounts of these contributions and employs an extensive range of activities that encourage the reader to evaluate the work of given theorists and approaches.

The book is:

- Comprehensive

- Student-friendly

- Accurate

- Unpatronising

It offers lecturers and students an ideal study resource for undergraduate modules in social theory.

 
Introduction
The Theoretical Self

 
 
Functionalist Perspectives
Theorizing Systems and Structures

 
 
Marxism
Theorizing Capitalism - Debates and Developments

 
 
The Action Perspectives
Theorizing Social Action and Self

 
 
Feminist Approaches
Theorizing Patriarchy and Oppression

 
 
Anthony Giddens
Theorizing Agency and Structure

 
 
Postmodernism
Theorizing Fragmentation and Uncertainty

 

`This book is accessible, as a beginner's guide should be, but without an over-simplification of the arguments. It should prove an immensely durable text for generations of students to come' - John Hughes, Professor of Sociological Analysis, Lancaster University


It provides a good introduction to social theory, but it still adopts the traditional approach of dividing theory by schools of thought. I would have find it more useful if the book would use social theory in a more topical way

Dr Cristina Costa
School of Education, Strathclyde University
September 9, 2015

A great guide to social theory - includes all the main theories and great activities allowing students to evaluate the theorists and their approaches.

Unlike other social theory books - this is an easy read and flows well.

Mrs Sunray Heap
General Education , Cardiff and Vale College
March 2, 2012

For instructors

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Paperback
ISBN: 9780761965336
£60.00

Hardcover
ISBN: 9780761965329
£145.00

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