Preface vii
Acknowledgments x
Introduction 1
Part I The Rise of the Classical Tradition 7
Introduction to Part I 9
1 The Idea of a Science of Society: The Enlightenment and Auguste Comte 11
2 The Revolutionary Theory of Karl Marx 22
3 The Promise of Sociology: Emile Durkheim 36
4 The Ironic Social Theory of Max Weber 48
Afterword to Part I 61
Part II Rethinking the Classical Tradition: American Sociology 65
Introduction to Part II 67
5 The Grand Theory of Talcott Parsons, Peter Berger, and Thomas Luckmann 70
6 The Scientific Theory of Randall Collins and Peter Blau 86
7 The Moral Sociology of C. Wright Mills and Robert Bellah 97
Afterword to Part II 113
Part III Rethinking the Classical Tradition: European Theory 115
Introduction to Part III 117
8 The Critical Theory of Jürgen Habermas 119
9 Stuart Hall and British Cultural Studies 132
10 The Critical Sociology of Anthony Giddens and Pierre Bourdieu 140
Afterword to Part III 152
Part IV Revisions and Revolts: The Postmodern Turn 155
Introduction to Part IV 157
11 The Postmodern World of Jacques Derrida, Jean-François Lyotard, and Jean Baudrillard 159
12 Michel Foucault’s Disciplinary Society 175
13 Zygmunt Bauman’s Sociology of Postmodernity 188
Afterword to Part IV 197
Part V Revisions and Revolts: Identity Politics and Theory 201
Introduction to Part V 203
14 Feminist Theory/Masculinity Studies 205
15 Critical Race Theory/White Studies 226
16 Lesbian, Gay, and Queer Theory/Heterosexual Studies 239
17 Colonial Discourse Studies 254
Afterword to Part V 263
Part VI Revisions and Revolts: Theories of World Order 267
Introduction to Part VI 269
18 From Nation to Globe: David Held and Mary Kaldor 271
19 Global Capitalism: Immanuel Wallerstein and Manuel Castells 281
20 The Return of Empire? Michael Hardt and Antonio Negri, David Harvey and Michael Mann 290
Afterword to Part VI 300
Part VII The Rise of Postdisciplinary Theory 303
Introduction to Part VII 305
21 Theorizing Postcolonial Nationalism: A Case of “Domain” Theorizing 308
22 Jeffrey Alexander: Reconstructing Democratic Theory in an Age of Disillusionment 320
23 Nancy Fraser: The Case for Radical Democracy 331
Afterword to Part VII 341
Index 344
STEVEN SEIDMAN is Professor of Sociology at the State University of New York at Albany. He is the author and editor of a number of books including Liberalism and the Origins of European Social Theory, The Postmodern Turn, Queer Theory/Sociology, The New Social Theory Reader (with Jeffrey Alexander), and Intimacies.
Praise for previous edition: "In this tour de force, Steven Seidman surveys social theory from Auguste Comte to Zygmunt Bauman via feminism, world systems theory, queer theory, post-colonialism and much more. It is not just a survey, but rather a plea for a public sociology that is relevant, committed and morally challenging. In a style of writing that is at once direct, personal and engaging, Seidman provides a penetrating overview of the state of sociology that is critical but optimistic. Contested Knowledge now in its fifth edition gets better with age." Bryan S. Turner, The City University of New York "In his spirited defense of theory as a moral enterprise, Steven Seidman offers insightful, penetrating, critical, but always fair assessments of the theoretical contributions of a wide range of theorists past and present.... Written with an enviable clarity, in a style that is at once lucid and engaging." Peter Kivisto, Augustana College and University of Turku
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