Contemporary Sociological Theory An Integrated Multi-Level Approach

This volume is designed as a basic text for upper level and graduate courses in contemporary sociological theory. Most sociology programs require their majors to take at least one course in sociological theory, sometimes two. A typical breakdown is between classical and contemporary theory. Theory is perhaps one of the bro- est areas of sociological inquiry and serves as a foundation or framework for more specialized study in specific substantive areas of the field. In addition, the study of sociological theory can readily be related to various aspects of other social science disciplines as well. From the very beginning sociology has been characterized by alternative theoretical perspectives. Classical theory includes the European founding figures of the dis- pline whose works were produced during the later half of the nineteenth century and the first couple of decades of the twentieth century plus early American th- rists. For most of the second half of the twentieth century, a fairly high consensus has developed among American sociologists regarding these major founders, p- ticularly with regard to the works of Durkheim and Weber in analyzing the overall society and of Simmel in analyzing social interaction processes. Since the late 1960s and early 1970s the influence of Marx has also been recognized. Recent decades have also witnessed an increased emphasis on the important contributions of several pioneering feminist perspectives in the early years of sociology.

Setting the Stage.- Introduction: From Implicit to Explicit Theories.- Classical Stage European Sources of Sociological Theory.- Development of American Sociology: A Brief Historical Overview.- Formal Theory Construction: Developing Sociological Theory as Part of a Scientific Enterprise.- Moving from Micro to Meso to Macro Levels.- Symbolic Interaction: Constructing the Social World–and its Participants' Identities.- Phenomenological Sociology and Ethnomethodology: The Everyday Life World of Common Sense.- Social Exchange and Rational Choice at the Micro Level: Looking Out for #1.- Networking and Belonging: Opportunity Structures, Rational Choice Exchanges, and the Sociology of Emotions.- From Micro-Level Exchanges to Meso- and Macro-Level Structures.- Meso-Level Structures: Communities and Organizations.- Meso-Level Structures: Markets and Socioeconomic Classes.- Integration and Social Order at the Macro Level: Parsons' Structural-Functional Perspective.- Middle-Range Functionalism and Neofunctionalism.- Conflict and Competition: Analytical Conflict Theories at the Macro Level.- Critical Theory: Social System Requirements Versus Human Needs.- Exploring Multi-Level Theoretical Perspectives.- Feminist Theory at Multiple Levels: Analytical and Critical.- Human Agency, the Structuration Process, and Social Systems: Linking Micro, Meso, and Macro Levels of Analysis.- The Sociobiological Perspective: Biological Versus Cultural Influences on Human Behavior.- The Dynamics of Cultural Systems.- Postmodern Social and Cultural Fragmentation.- Conclusion.

D. Paul Johnson is a Professor and the former Chair of the Department of Sociology at Texas Tech University.