Bryan S. Turner is Professor of Sociology at the University of Cambridge. He has held a number of teaching posts: at Flinders University (1982-87), the University of Utrecht (1987-90), the University of Essex (1990-93), and Deakin University (1993-98). He edited The Politics of J-F. Lyotard (with Chris Rojek, 1998), Max Weber: Critical Responses (1999) and The Talcott Parsons Reader (Blackwell, 1999), and he is closely involved with the journals Body & Society (as co-editor) and Citizenship Studies (as editor).

"This is an unrivalled collection of essays on social theory from the classical to the postmodern period. It keeps one up to date without abandoning the foundational issues that tie society, politics, culture, gender, and race. Each contributor has fashioned a remarkably responsible account of the topic at hand along with invaluable bibliographic guides." – John O’Neill, York University, Toronto"The striking motif of this revised reader-friendly companion is Bryan Turner’s welcome dismissal of ‘decorative theory’ – that is cultural theory which has become an end in itself. He urges a return to historical and comparative studies reflected by new chapters on social anthropology and the body." – Ray Pahl, University of Kent

• List of Contributors. Preface to the Second Edition.Acknowledgments.Introduction: Bryan S. Turner (University of Cambridge).Part I: Foundations:.1. The Foundations of Social Theory - origins and trajectories: Gerald Delanty (University of Liverpool).2. The Philosophy of Social Science: William Outhwaite (University of Sussex).Part II: Actions, Actors, Systems:.3. Theories of Action and Praxis: Ira J. Cohen (Rutgers University).4. Systems Theory and Functionalism: Frank J. Lechner (Emory University).5. Psychoanalysis and Social Theory: Anthony Elliott (Monash University).6. Structuralism: Roy Boyne (University of Durham).Part III: Perspectives on Social and Cultural Analysis:.7. Symbolic Interactionism in the Twentieth Century: Ken Plummer (University of Essex).8. Sociological Theory and Rational Choice Theory: Peter Abell (London School of Economics).9. Anthropology and Social Theory: James D. Faubion (Rice University).10. Phenomenology and Sociology: Steven Vaitkus (University of Bielefeld).11. Feminisms of the Second Wave: Terry Lovell (University of Warwick).12. Feminisms Transformed? Terry Lovell (University of Warwick).13. Cultural Sociology and Cultural Sciences: Steven Connor (Birbeck College).Part IV:Perspectives on Time and Space:.14. Historical Sociology: John Mandalios (Griffith University).15. Sociology of Time and Space: John Urry (Lancaster University).Part V: Contemporary Developments in Social Theory:.16. Postmodern Social Theory: Barry Smart (University of Portsmouth).17. Outline of a General Sociology of the Body: Bryan S. Turner (University of Cambridge).Part VI: Intellectuals and the Public Sphere:.18. Social Theory and the Public Sphere: Craig Calhoun (University of North Carolina).Index.