Andrew Collier is the boldest defender of objectivity - in science, knowledge, thought, action, politics, morality and religion. In this tribute and acknowledgement of the influence his work has had on a wide readership, his colleagues show that they have been stimulated by his thinking and offer challenging responses. This wide-ranging book covers key areas with which defenders of objectivity often have to engage. Sections are devoted to the following:
* objectivity of value
* objectivity and everyday knowledge
* objectivity in political economy
* objectivity and...

Social Theory and Postcommunism undertakes a thorough study of the implications of post-communism for sociological theory. Written by two leading social theorists, the book discusses the thesis that the fall of communism has decimated alternative conceptions of social organizations other than capitalism.

• Analyzes the implications of the fall of communism on social theory
• Discusses alternative ideas of social organizations other than capitalism, in the wake of the collapse of communism
• Covers state/civil society, globalization, the future of "modernity," and...

Social Theory and Postcommunism undertakes a thorough study of the implications of post-communism for sociological theory. Written by two leading social theorists, the book discusses the thesis that the fall of communism has decimated alternative conceptions of social organizations other than capitalism.

• Analyzes the implications of the fall of communism on social theory
• Discusses alternative ideas of social organizations other than capitalism, in the wake of the collapse of communism
• Covers state/civil society, globalization, the future of "modernity," and...

Modern social thought ranges widely from the social sciences to philosophy, political theories and doctrines, cultural ideas and movements, and the influence of the natural sciences.

• Provides an authoritative overview of the main themes of social thought.
  
• Long essays and entries give full coverage to each topic.
  
• Covers major currents of thought, philosophical and cultural trends, and the individual social sciences from anthropology to welfare economics.
  
• New edition updates about 200 entries and includes new entries,...

This important Manifesto argues that we still need a concept of society in order to make sense of the forces which structure our lives.

• Written by leading social theorist William Outhwaite
  
• Asks if the notion of society is relevant in the twenty-first century
  
• Goes to the heart of contemporary social and political debate
  
• Examines critiques of the concept of society from neoliberals, postmodernists, and globalization theorists
  

This important Manifesto argues that we still need a concept of society in order to make sense of the forces which structure our lives.

• Written by leading social theorist William Outhwaite
  
• Asks if the notion of society is relevant in the twenty-first century
  
• Goes to the heart of contemporary social and political debate
  
• Examines critiques of the concept of society from neoliberals, postmodernists, and globalization theorists
  

Modern social thought ranges widely from the social sciences to philosophy, political theories and doctrines, cultural ideas and movements, and the influence of the natural sciences.

• Provides an authoritative overview of the main themes of social thought.
  
• Long essays and entries give full coverage to each topic.
  
• Covers major currents of thought, philosophical and cultural trends, and the individual social sciences from anthropology to welfare economics.
  
• New edition updates about 200 entries and includes new entries,...

This is a jewel among methods handbooks, bringing together a formidable collection of international contributors to comment on every aspect of the various central issues, complications, and controversies in the core methodological traditions. It is designed to meet the needs of those disciplinary and nondisciplinary problem-oriented social inquirers for a comprehensive overview of the methodological literature. The text is divided into 7 sections: Overviews of methodological approaches in the social sciences Cases, comparisons, and theory Quantification and experiment Rationality, complexity...

This book provides a comprehensive introduction to, and selection from, Jurgen Habermas's writings from the early 1960s to the present. The book is divided into seven sections, covering the principal areas of Habermas's work. Each section includes an introduction and a selection of substantial extracts from relevant books.

In the general introduction, Outhwaite outlines the central themes of Habermas's work and analyses the development of his views over the years. Subsequent sections are organized thematically and chronologically, so that the book will be easy to use by...

Does it make sense to speak of a European society, above and beyond its component states and regions? In this major new book William Outhwaite argues that it does. He goes beyond the study of individual states and specific regions of Europe to examine the changing contours of the continent as a whole, at a time when Europe is beginning to look and act more like a single entity.

In what we have come to call Europe there developed distinctive forms of political, economic, and more broadly social organisation - many of course building on elements drawn from more advanced...