Sociological Theory

11th Edition

George Ritzer - University of Maryland, USA
Jeffrey Stepnisky - MacEwan University, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

February 2021 | 832 pages | SAGE Publications, Inc

The authors are proud sponsors of the SAGE Keith Roberts Teaching Innovations Award—enabling graduate students and early career faculty to attend the annual ASA pre-conference teaching and learning workshop.

Sociological Theory gives readers a comprehensive overview of the major theorists and schools of sociological thought, from sociology's 19th century origins through the early 21st century. Written by an author team that includes one of the leading contemporary thinkers, the text integrates key theories with biographical sketches of theorists, placing them in historical and intellectual context. The Eleventh Edition includes examples of premodern sociological theory from Islamic scholar Ibn Khaldun, Harriet Martineau’s feminist writings contextualized within the history of sociological thought, discussions of actor-network theory through Donna Haraway’s work on cyborgs and companion species, illustrations of historical comparative sociology with Saskia Sassen’s concepts of the global city and expulsions, and more ways to help students to understand sociology’s major theories.

Included with this title:
The password-protected Instructor Resource Site (formally known as SAGE Edge) offers access to all text-specific resources, including a test bank and editable, chapter-specific PowerPoint® slides. Learn more.

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ISBN: 9781544354798	Electronic Version	Suggested Retail Price: $120.00	Bookstore Price: $96.00
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Biographical and Autobiographical Sketches

Preface

Acknowledgments

About the Authors

PART I. CLASSICAL SOCIOLOGICAL THEORY

Chapter 1. A Historical Sketch of Sociological Theory: The Early Years

Introduction

Premodern Sociological Theory

Social Forces in the Development of Sociological Theory

Intellectual Forces and the Rise of Sociological Theory

The Development of French Sociology

The Development of German Sociology

The Origins of British Sociology

The Key Figure in Early Italian Sociology

Non-European Classical Theory

Chapter 2. Karl Marx

Introduction

The Dialectic

Dialectical Method

Human Potential

Alienation

The Structures of Capitalist Society

Materialist Conception of History

Cultural Aspects of Capitalist Society

Marx’s Economics: A Case Study

Communism

Criticisms

Contemporary Applications

Chapter 3. Emile Durkheim

Introduction

Social Facts

The Division of Labor in Society

Suicide

The Elementary Forms of Religious Life

Moral Education and Social Reform

Criticisms

Contemporary Applications

Chapter 4. Max Weber

Methodology

Substantive Sociology

Criticisms

Contemporary Applications

Chapter 5. Georg Simmel

Primary Concerns

Individual Consciousness and Individuality

Social Interaction (“Association”)

Social Structures and Worlds

Objective Culture

The Philosophy of Money

Secrecy: A Case Study in Simmel’s Sociology

Criticisms

Contemporary Applications

PART II. MODERN SOCIOLOGICAL THEORY: THE MAJOR SCHOOLS

Chapter 6. A Historical Sketch of Sociological Theory: The Later Years

Early American Sociological Theory

Sociological Theory to Midcentury

Sociological Theory From Midcentury

Late-Twentieth-Century Integrative Theory

Theories of Modernity and Postmodernity

Social Theory in the Twenty-First Century

Chapter 7. Structural Functionalism, Systems Theory, and Conflict Theory

Structural Functionalism

Systems Theory

Conflict Theory

Chapter 8. Varieties of Neo-Marxian Theory

Economic Determinism

Hegelian Marxism

Critical Theory

Neo-Marxian Economic Sociology

Historically Oriented Marxism

Neo-Marxian Spatial Analysis

Post-Marxist Theory

Chapter 9. Symbolic Interactionism

The Major Historical Roots

The Ideas of George Herbert Mead

Symbolic Interactionism: The Basic Principles

The Self and the Work of Erving Goffman

The Sociology of Emotions

Criticisms

The Future of Symbolic Interactionism

Chapter 10. Ethnomethodology

Defining Ethnomethodology

The Diversification of Ethnomethodology

Some Early Examples

Conversation Analysis

Studies of Institutions

Criticisms of Traditional Sociology

Stresses and Strains in Ethnomethodology

Synthesis and Integration

Chapter 11. Exchange, Network, and Rational Choice Theories

Exchange Theory

Network Theory

Network Exchange Theory

Rational Choice Theory

Chapter 12. Contemporary Feminist Theory (by Patricia Madoo Lengermann and Gillian Niebrugge)

Feminism’s Basic Questions

Historical Framing—The Second Wave: Feminism, Sociology, and Gender

Varieties of Contemporary Feminist Theory

Challenges to Feminism

Feminist Sociological Theorizing

Chapter 13. Micro-Macro and Agency-Structure Integration

Micro-Macro Integration

Agency-Structure Integration

Agency-Structure and Micro-Macro Linkages: Fundamental Differences

PART III. FROM MODERN TO POSTMODERN SOCIAL THEORY (AND BEYOND)

Chapter 14. Contemporary Theories of Modernity

Classical Theorists on Modernity

The Juggernaut of Modernity

The Risk Society

The Holocaust and Liquid Modernity

Modernity’s Unfinished Project

Self, Society, and Religion

Informationalism and the Network Society

Chapter 15. Structuralism, Poststructuralism, and Postmodern Social Theory

Structuralism

Poststructuralism

Postmodern Social Theory

Criticisms

Chapter 16. Theories of Race and Colonialism

Fanon and the Colonial Subject

Postcolonial Theory

Critical Theories of Race and Racism

Racial Formation

A Systematic Theory of Race

Southern Theory and Indigenous Resurgence

Chapter 17. Globalization Theory

Major Contemporary Theorists on Globalization

Cultural Theory

Economic Theory

Political Theory

Neoliberalism

Chapter 18. Science, Technology, and Nature

Affect Theory

Science Studies and Actor-Network Theory

Theories of the Anthropocene

Consumption and Prosumption Theory

References

Name Index

Subject Index

Supplements

Instructor Resource Site
edge.sagepub.com/ritzer11e

Online resources included with this text
The online resources for your text are available via the password-protected Instructor Resource Site, which offers access to all text-specific resources, including a test bank and editable, chapter-specific PowerPoint® slides.

Key features

NEW TO THIS EDITION:

In order to improve the flow of the text, the chapter on poststructuralism and postmodernism includes discussion of queer theory and follows the chapter on modernity.

Concepts are brought to life with new biographies on Ibn Khaldun (Ch. 1) Hannah Ardent (Ch. 6), Raewyn Connell (Ch 12). Bruno Latour (Ch.18), and Donna Haraway (Ch. 18).

The latest developments in sociological theory are covered in new sections on Hegemonic Masculinity, Postcolonial feminism, Neoliberalism, “non-European” classical theory, and globalizations.

Chapter 18 has been redesigned with a focus on science, technology, nature, and consumption and an opening discussion of the relevance of these themes for sociological theory. The largest new addition is a section on Theories of the Anthropocene, a set of theories that theorize the connection between climate change and human society.

KEY FEATURES:

A clear, unbiased style of presenting sociological theory, which Ritzer's readers have come to expect, makes the text accessible to students.
The comprehensive approach covers all major schools of sociological thought, as well as the key works and concepts associated with each.
Chronological organization allows for easy use of supplementary readers to enhance classroom discussion or to broaden students' understanding of theories and concepts.
Biographical boxes help students place sociological theories within a personal and social context.

In order to improve the flow of the text the chapter on poststructuralism and postmodernism (formerly Ch. 17, now Ch.15) has been moved to follow the chapter on modernity (chapter 14).

The discussion of queer theory, formerly part of Ch. 18, has been moved into the chapter on postructuralism and postmodernism (Ch. 15).

Ch. 1 has several new additions: a stand-alone section on Ibn Khaldun to provide the reader with an example of premodern sociological theory; a section on Harriet Martineau to better contextualize her feminist writings within the history of sociological thought; and a section on “non-European” classical theory.

There are new biographies on Ibn Khaldun (Ch. 1) Hannah Ardent (Ch. 6), Raewyn Connell (Ch 12). Bruno Latour (Ch.18), and Donna Haraway (Ch. 18).

Ch. 12 has been updated with new sections on Hegemonic Masculinity, Postcolonial feminism, and Neoliberalism.

Ch. 17, on globalization, includes a new section on the work of historical comparative sociologist Saskia Sassen and her concepts of the global city and expulsions.

Ch. 18 has been redesigned with a focus on science, technology, nature, and consumption and an opening discussion of the relevance of these themes for sociological theory. The largest new addition is a section on Theories of the Anthropocene, a set of theories that theorize the connection between climate change and human society

The Ch. 18 section on actor-network theory and posthumanism has been significantly rewritten with a more detailed focus on Bruno Latour and Donna Haraway, especially Haraway’s work on cyborgs and companion species.