Social Theory and Social History

This book examines the rapid development of social history over the past 100 years, exploring the links between historical method, social theory and the changing nature of what interests us about the past. Providing a route map for general readers and students alike, the book charts diverse territories, from the rise of social history from poor relation to economic history and the emergence of Annales and Marxist perspectives to the recent challenges presented by post-structuralism and cultural history.

Donald M. MacRaild is the author of several titles in social history.

Acknowledgements

xi

Introduction

1

(8)

The need for theory in historical explanation

1

(3)

The expansion of social history

4

(2)

The developing relationship between social theory and social history

6

(3)

1 Cinderella Gets Her Prince? The Development of Social History

9

(24)

Ideas, philosophy and the roots of social history

10

(4)

Silencing the 'drum and trumpet'? early social history traditions in Britain

14

(8)

1945 and after

22

(9)

Conclusion

31

(2)

2 Fruit of a 'special relationship'? Historical Sociology

33

(22)

Introduction

33

(1)

The temporary separation of history and sociology

34

(3)

Differing reactions to the growing convergence of history and sociology

37

(3)

Historical sociology

40

(7)

Historical sociology: the view from the air

47

(4)

Historical sociology on the ground: an example

51

(3)

Conclusions

54

(1)

3 'A mass of factors and influences?' Systemic, 'Total' and 'Comparative' Histories

55

(25)

The intellectual context of large-scale thinking in social history

55

(3)

'Histoire Totale': the world of Braudel

58

(4)

Braudel's influence

62

(5)

Comparative history

67

(8)

The postmodern challenge

75

(3)

Conclusion

78

(2)

4 Social Structure and Human Agency in Historical Explanation

80

(38)

Introduction

80

(1)

Structure and agency in history and sociology

81

(3)

Society and the individual: structure and agency in social theory

84

(11)

Looking for an exit from the structuralist maze: post-structuralism, figuration and structuration

95

(5)

Class, gender and ethnicity in the historical process

100

(16)

Conclusion

116

(2)

5 Ideology, Mentalite and Social Ritual: From Social History to Cultural History

118

(30)

Historic approaches to social and cultural aspects of the past

120

(3)

Ideology and mentality

123

(2)

Marxist social history, 'history from below' and subordinate 'cultures'

125

(3)

From women's history to gender history

128

(2)

Cultural history as 'the history of mentalities'

130

(11)

'New cultural history' and the eclipse of 'old social history'?

141

(5)

Conclusion

146

(2)

Conclusion

148

(4)

Glossary

152

(9)

Notes

161

(28)

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Social Theory and Social History

Summary

Author Biography

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials