Foundations of Social Theory A Critical Introduction

ISBN : 9781032417479

Author : Neal Harris

Publisher : Routledge

Year : 2024

Language : English

Type : Book

Description : 1. Introduction What is Social Theory? Concepts Theories Perspectives What is Society? The Past, Present, and Future of Social Theory Classical Social Theory Contemporary Social Theory What about the Future? Reading Social Theory Today The Structure of This Book Over to You 2. Karl Marx: Critique, Class Struggle, and Revolution Key Concepts Alienation Class Mode of Production Commodity Fetishism Historical Materialism How did these concepts shape social theory? Linking Theory and Praxis What are the problems for their use in social research today? Eurocentrism Class Reductionism How is this perspective used in social theory today? Marxist Schools Marxism in Action International Relations 3. Émile Durkheim: Society Functions! Key Concepts Anomie Collective Consciousness Organic and Mechanical Solidarity Division of Labour Social Facts How did these concepts shape social theory? Functionalism Positivism What are the problems for their use in social research today? Functionalism: Normalising conflict and exploitation Positivism: Blind to Rationality and Depth-Psychology How is this perspective used in social theory today? Structuration Theory 4. Max Weber: Meaningful Social Action Key Concepts Verstehen Ideal Types The Iron Cage Authority and Social Action Disenchantment and the Protestant Work Ethics How did these concepts shape social theory? Interpretivism Linking Economy, Society, Subjectivity What are the problems for their use in social research today? Was Weber racist? How is this perspective used in social theory today? The McDonaldization Thesis Social Stratification 5. The Early Frankfurt School: What happened to the revolution? Key Concepts Traditional and Critical Theory Reification Instrumental Rationality Culture Industry Freudo-Marxism How did these concepts shape social theory? The idea of ‘Critical Theory’ What are the problems for their use in social research today? Colonial Teleology Androcentrism How is this perspective used in social theory today? Science and Technology 6. Pierre Bourdieu: Class meets Culture Key Concepts Capital Habitus Field Homology and Structural Correspondence Symbolic Violence How did these concepts shape social theory? Inequality and Cultural Sociology Sociology as a Combat Sport What are the problems for their use in social research today? Forgetting the Mute Compulsion of Capital Lacking Intersectionality How is this perspective used in social theory today? Capital Practice Theory 7. The Frankfurt School Today: Modernity, Communication, and Recognition Key Concepts Modernity and Social Learning Processes Post-Marxism Post-Metaphysics Communicative Action Recognition How did these concepts shape social theory? The intersubjective turn Fusing theoretical traditions Modernity and Modernities What are the problems for their use in social research today? Forgetting Capitalism Blind to Power Eurocentrism How is this perspective used in social theory today? Communication and the public sphere Recognition 8. Gender: Theorising Patriarchy Key Concepts Patriarchy Sex and Gender Queer Theory Care Labour and Feminist Political Economy Intersectionality How did these concepts shape social theory? Fluid Identities Hegemonic Masculinity Emphasized Femininity What are the problems for their use in social research today? Equality, Diversity, Inclusion The Decay of Intersectionality How is this perspective used in social theory today? Political Urgency 9. Post-Structuralism and Post-Modernism: ‘It’s all so much more complicated than that!’ Key Concepts Post-modernism Deconstructionism Discourse and Power/Knowledge Biopolitics Hyper-Reality How did these concepts shape social theory? Rejection of binaries Subjectivity What are the problems for their use in social research today? Relativism Obscurantism and Nonsense How is this perspective used in social theory today? Critical Discourse Analysis 10. Decolonial Social Theory: Confronting Coloniality Key Concepts Coloniality of Power Eurocentrism Epistemicide and Decolonising Knowledge Subalternity Modernity/Coloniality How did these concepts shape social theory? Epistemic Diversity Normalising Global Social Research What are the problems for their use in social research today? Mute Symbolism and Co-Optation Neo-nativism and Fetishises Indigenieties 11. Conclusion: Key Questions

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