This Timely volume represents an attempt by leading practitioners in the field to think reflexively about the present state of social theory and its historical analogues, and to consider new directions opposed to the "classical" social theorists, as well as new uses of the classics. Social Theory and Sociology begins to address a problem that is salient for students as well as academics, namely, why and how does the legacy of social theory matter? What is the value of what we are learning?

No attempt is made to dodge these tough questions and some very different answers are...

The Blackwell Reader in Contemporary Social Theory provides a comprehensive and exciting introduction to the major developments, debates, and schools of thought in social theory today.

The Companion to Major Social Theorists offers a broad-ranging survey of classical and contemporary social theory. In original essays especially commissioned for this volume, leading experts and practitioners examine the life and work of 25 major theorists, discussing the social and intellectual context of their writings and offering an analysis of the impact of their work over time.

• Includes 25 original essays on major classical and contemporary social theorists
• Contributions are especially commissioned for this volume, and are by leading experts and practitioners in...

The Blackwell Companion to Social Theory (Second Edition) builds on the success of the first edition by adding four completely new chapters. Retained material from the first edition has been revised, extended, and updated and coverage of feminism expanded into two chapters. The book provides insights to the traditions of classical social thought as well as the major debates and developments in contemporary social theory with 18 original essays by the world's leading social theorists.

This book provides a critical assessment of contemporary social theory for students in the social sciences. Delanty examines the writings of a number of key contemporary thinkers, including Habermas, Foucault, Bauman, Touraine, Giddens and Beck, and provides a clear account of the strengths and limitations of their work.

In this reinterpretation and extension of the critical theory tradition, Craig Calhoun surveys the origins, fortunes and prospects of this most influential of theoretical approaches. Moving from the early Frankfurt School to Habermas, to contemporary debates over postmodernism, feminism and nationalism, Calhoun breathes new life into critical social theory, showing how it can learn from the past and contribute to the future.

This volume is a collection of original essays by sociologists and intellectual historians who have been leading figures in recent scholarship on the classical sociological theorists.

This volume is a collection of original essays by sociologists and intellectual historians who have been leading figures in recent scholarship on the classical sociological theorists.