Emotions and Sociology

Traditional sociological inquiry tends to downplay the importance of emotions. This volume reverses the trend, showing what the discipline looks like when emotions are taken seriously. Comprising eight chapters written by leading sociologists from five countries, the book presents a truly international discussion. Each of the chapters focuses on a particular subfield, such as political sociology, economic sociology, or the sociology of science. Within this framework, each author brings a concern with emotions to the core themes of sociological inquiry, reporting on the contributions of previous sociologists and bringing new questions to the fore. The volume as a whole contributes both to our sociological understanding of emotions and to specific areas of sociological research. By demonstrating the significance of emotions to social processes and organizations, it takes sociology in an exciting new direction.

Jack Barbalet is an Australian sociologist, currently Professor of Sociology at the University of Leicester, where he is Head of Department. He has written extensively in political sociology, sociological theory and the sociology of the emotions. He is editor of the Journal of Classical Sociology.