Contested Knowledge: Social Theory in the Postmodern Era - Hardcover

Seidman, Steven

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1577181336 ISBN 13: 9781577181330

Publisher: Wiley–Blackwell, 1998

Synopsis

From the classical sociologists (Durkheim, Marx, Weber) to contemporary social theories and movements (including feminism, poststructuralism, African–American thought, and Queer Theory), Steven Seidman presents a compelling new approach to the tradition of sociological theory and its established canon.

About this title

Review

"Uncommonly graceful, richly descriptive, courageous. No–one to date has given so complete an account of social theory – from its Enlightenment origins to the latest postmodern word." Charles Lemert, Wesleyan University. " Contested Knowledge presents a vigorous argument for social theory that is re–connected to public intellectual life and the moral concerns of real people. Along the way Seidman shows how such an understanding of theory provides a closer link to practical research than current alternatives are able to do. Avoiding esoteric jargon, the book describes where social theory stands today in a way that is a pleasure to read." Robert N. Bellah, University of California, Berkeley. "A highly readable and engaging discussion of the canon of social theory (Marx, Durkheim, Weber, Parsons) and the challenges launched by critical theorists and by various postmodern lines of theorizing. Seidman′s approach to postmodernism is refreshingly broad, attuned not only to French poststructuralism but also to the "new social knowledges" developed by feminists, lesbians and gay men, and people of color. Contested Knowledge is an important contribution to current reassessments of the social theory canon." Barrie Thorne, University of Southern California, Los Angeles. "An important book." Thesis Eleven .

The Second Edition includes new sections on the theories of Alexander, Giddens, and Bourdieu, Stuart Hall and British Cultural Studies, and Wallerstein and post–colonial theory. Combining social analysis and moral advocacy, Contested Knowledge shows how social theory can work within the public, political sphere. Engaging the reader and the discipline alike it is the perfect introduction to social theory.

Edition details

• Publisher: Wiley–Blackwell
• Publication date: 1998
• ISBN 10: 1577181336
• ISBN 13: 9781577181330
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Edition number: 2
• Number of pages: 416