Social theory for beginners

Paul Ransome is a lecturer in sociology, social theory and social research at Swansea University, UK. He has a professional interest in higher education pedagogy and also conducts research into work-life balance.

"The attention paid to the importance of metaphorical and chronological definitions is invaluable to beginners attempting to construct relevant literature around the different time scales in social theory." 2nd Year student in BA Human Geography

• Introduction: who is this book for and how do I use it?; What is social theory?; Where did social theory come from?; Émile Durkheim and the coming of industrial society; Karl Marx, capitalism and revolution; Max Weber, rational capitalism and social action; Talcott Parsons, functionalism and the social system; Social interactionism and the real lives of social actors; Western Marxism, Antonio Gramsci and the Frankfurt School; Language, structure, meaning; Discourse and power: post-structuralist social theory; Feminist social theory; Reviving theories of modernity: Habermas, Giddens and Bourdieu; Theories of modernity and post-modernity; Reflexive modernisation: the global dimension and cultural theory; The boundary problem in contemporary social theory.