Essays on the Sociology of Culture

Karl Mannheim was one of the leading sociologists of the twentieth century.Essays on the Sociology of Culture, originally published in 1956, was one of his most important books. The collection of essays is centered around two important questions: what is the relationship between the organization of intellectuals and the ideas which they produce, and given the development of a democratic ethos in society, what form would the democratization of culture assume? These two questions continue to be central to the humanities and social sciences, and therefore Mannheim's contribution remains a fascinating input to contemporary debate. This second edition includes a superb preface by Bryan Turner which sets Mannheim's study in the appropriate historical and intellectual context, and explains why his thought on culture remains essential for students engaged in debates about mass culture, the politics of culture and postmodernity.