Classical and Modern Social Theory

This comprehensive introduction covers a wide historical range of major thinkers, from the classical to the postmodernist, as well as key themes in social theory and a guide to the major debates. Designed for students with little or no background in social theory, this single volume covering both classic and contemporary theory introduces the basic concepts at the center of social theory in accessible language. In addition to being a textbook, this book is ideal for readers seeking a useful reference source to the field. Divided into three sections, the book contains thirty chapters in all. It covers classical social theory, modern social theory, and contemporary challenges to both periods. Each chapter is written by a specialist in the field, giving a clear exposition of the main concepts placed in both historical and philosophical context. Chapters contain biographical data, end of chapter lists of key concepts and a comprehensive bibliography listing the primary and secondary literature relevant to the material.

Heine Andersen is Associate Professor of Sociology at the University of Copenhagen. He was formerly Associate Professor at the Copenhagen Business School and Visiting Scholar at the European University Institute in Florence.

Lars Bo Kaspersen is Associate Professor of Sociology at the University of Copenhagen He has been a Visiting Scholar at the University of Southampton and a Fulbright Scholar at the University of California, Santa Barbara. He is the author of Anthony Giddens: An Introduction to a Social Theorist (Blackwell, 2000).