Social Theory (1st Ed.): Continuity and Confrontation, A Reader

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.

Roberta Garner is Professor of Sociology at DePaul University in Chicago. She is the author of The Joy of Stats: A Short Guide to Introductory Statistics in the Social Sciences, Second Edition (2010). She teaches courses on theory, research design, statistics, and Greek mythology.