Elgar Companions to Great Thinkers series – serie

This fascinating book explores the life and work of Émile Durkheim, presenting new and exciting interpretations of his foundational sociological ideas. By tracing the evolution of his thought and its impact on key areas of inquiry, the book demonstrates Durkheim’s continuing significance in contemporary social science. Leading scholars recontextualise Durkheim’s ideas, placing him in dialogue with other core figures in the social sciences from the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries. Each chapter covers a different topic, and together they address issues in sociology, politics, philosophy, phenomenology, hermeneutics, criminology, nationalism, religious studies, ethics, suicide, gender, anthropology, and post-colonialism. This book showcases the enduring relevance of Durkheim’s work, establishing its innovative potential and continued inspiration for modern analysis. This interdisciplinary investigation of Émile Durkheim will benefit scholars and students across the social sciences, particularly those in the fields of sociology, criminology, philosophy, politics, religious studies, and anthropology.

Affirming Antonio Gramsci’s continuing influence, this adroitly cultivated Companion offers a comprehensive overview of Gramsci’s contributions to the interdisciplinary fields of critical social science, social and political thought, economics and emancipatory politics. Within the tradition of historical materialism, it explores the continuing impact of Gramscian perspectives in the present day.Featuring contributions from eminent scholars, the Companion engages with Gramsci’s thought in the broader context of his life, outlining his innovative theoretical and historical analyses of capitalist modernity. Key themes within Gramscian theory are examined such as historical bloc, passive revolution, integral state, and civil society, which elaborate upon the core concept of hegemony. Chapters map out the development of historical materialism and rigorously analyse contemporary issues of urgency including climate breakdown, the rise of far-right populism, and increasing geopolitical tension.Offering a state-of-the-art review of Gramscian theory, this Companion will prove beneficial to academics, researchers and students from across the social sciences and humanities, and will be essential reading for those interested in political economy and political theory, sociology, philosophy, radical and feminist economics, environmental studies, gender studies, and post-colonial and cultural studies.