In the sixth edition of Contested Knowledge, social theorist Steven Seidman presents the latest topics in social theory and addresses the current shift of 'universalist theorists' to networks of clustered debates.
Responds to current issues, debates, and new social movements
Reviews sociological theory from a contemporary perspective
Reveals how the universal theorist and the era of rival schools has been replaced by networks of clustered debates that are relatively 'autonomous' and interdisciplinary
Features updates and in-depth discussions of the newest clustered debates in social theory-intimacy, postcolonial nationalism, and the concept of 'the other'
Challenges social scientists to renew their commitment to the important moral and political role social knowledge plays in public life
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
