Overview
Contested Knowledge is a well-established text offering up-to-date perspectives on social theory by one of the most important thinkers of our time. This fourth edition includes an exploration of globalization and a new section on the theories of global and world order. It provides a thoughtful and rigorous, yet highly accessible and reader-friendly account of social theory.
- Responds to current issues, debates, and new social movements
- Reviews sociological theory from a truly contemporary perspective
- Examines both classical and contemporary theories
- Combines social analysis and moral advocacy to demonstrate how social theory contributes to the making of a better world
- Challenges social scientists to renew their commitment to the important moral and political role social knowledge plays in public life
- A thoughtful and rigorous, yet highly accessible and reader-friendly account of social theory
- An accompanying website containing additional support for lecturers and students is available at www.blackwellpublishing.com/seidman
Synopsis
Contested Knowledge has established itself as a leading text that brings social theory into the present day by providing the most up to date perspectives on social theory by one of the most important thinkers of our time, Steven Seidman.
- Responds to current issues, debates, and new social movements.
- Reviews sociological theory from a truly contemporary perspective.
- Covers both classical and contemporary theories.
- Combines social analysis and moral advocacy, and demonstrates how social theory can contribute to the making of a better world.
- Challenges social scientists to renew their commitment to viewing social knowledge as playing an important moral and political role in public life.
- Revised new edition organizes contents more appealingly for students, and includes an insightful new chapter on social theory today and short biographies on major social thinkers.
Editorials
From the Publisher
Praise for the third edition:
"There is no better social theory text for demonstrating to students the political relevance of both past and current social thinkers. Seidman compellingly argues for a more lively, publicly-engaged sociology. Contested Knowledge is required reading for any discussion of how social theory can help us make sense of our own times."
Nancy L. Fischer, Macalester College
"Seidman is one of the most original and profound voices in social theory today. A master of historical scholarship, he has produced here a revisionist theoretical story that will continue to be widely read and debated."
Jeffrey Alexander, Yale University
"The Third edition of Contested Knowledge is a strong, clear and progressive argument for the active and moral role of sociological theory in a globalized and multicultural age. It is an optimistic, rigorous and reflective text, and a highly accessible one."
Joe Bailey, Kingston University