Presents and tracks the transformation of the societies and social relations that characterize the twenty-first century. This volume features conceptualization of three processes that are fundamental to the analyses of micro, meso and macro social relation

The contributors to this volume offer both a measured reassessment of the experience of labour movements in the 1980s and a re-interpretation of their role in the new circumstances of the 1990s.

How can differences be understood in social theory through comparisons, and how should social theory relate to regional studies to do so?

This question has been prevalent within the sociological field for over a century, but is becoming increasingly important in a globalised age in which cultural borders are constantly challenged and rapidly changing. In this collection, Arjomand and Reis illuminate the importance of exploring spatial, cultural and intellectual differences beyond generalizations, attempting to understand diversity in itself as it takes shape across the world. With...

Recognizing the deep relations between politics, finance, cities and citizens, this book argues for a rejuvenated account of urban theory.

The book emphasises the need to understand the importance of the 2008 global financial crisis and how the crisis affects cities nested in a variety of political economies. Situating urban theory in the current economic climate, it powerfully illuminates the dynamic between history, theory, and practice. Stressing how catastrophic social and economic calamities under the crisis lead to reorganised city structures, city life and city policies...

Deals with the many traditions of sociology in the world. This work discusses, challenges and re-conceptualises the global discipline of sociology; evaluating the diversities within and between sociological traditions of many regions and nation-states.

In recent social and political theory the term 'civil society' has achieved renewed currency. This volume offers a critical examination of the normative sense of 'civil society'. It includes analyses of civil society and democracy, citizenship, race and ethnicity, and post-communism.

Explores the historical development of economic theories of society from Marx, through to Weber, Schumpeter, Polanyi and Parsons. The contribution of economic sociology is demonstrated through critical assessments of key areas of their literature.

This work focuses on issues of social movements and social class from the perspective of collective action, and discusses topics such as: middle-class radicalism; class; racism; urban politics; citizenship; education; and democracy.

Argues that we can only make sense of environmental issues if we consider them as part of a more encompassing process of social transformation. This book provides a discussion of the central themes in environmental sociology, identifying two traditions: ec

Sociology has long lacked the sense of propulsive direction that it possesses in the 1960s and early 70s. The subject has fragmented in a series of interlocking fields and sub-disciplines. Is there a way of revitalizing the subject? Where can we look for guides to build a sociology that combats fragmentation, constantly unites the micro with the macro level, and provides a holisitic view of society?

This book argues that the sociology of Georg Simmel is the most promising resource to accomplish these ends. Although Simmel was rediscovered in the 1980s his advice for the design...