Download or read book Social Theory written by Carsten Bagge Laustsen and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2017-03-27 with total page 402 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This textbook offers a new approach to understanding social theory. Framed around paired theoretical perspectives on a series of sociological problems, the book shows how distinctive viewpoints shed light on different facets of social phenomena. The book includes sociology’s "founding fathers", major 20th-century thinkers and recent voices such as Butler and Zizek. Philosophically grounded and focused on interpretation and analysis, the book provides a clear understanding of theory’s scope while developing students’ skills in evaluating, applying and comparing theories.

Download or read book Social Theory and Political Practice RLE Social Theory written by Brian Fay and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2014-08-27 with total page 107 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book examines the question of how our knowledge of social life affects, and ought to affect, our way of living it. In so doing, it critically discusses two epistemological models of social science – the positivist and the interpretive – from the viewpoint of the political theories which, it is argued, are implicit in these models; moreover, it proposes a third model – the critical – which is organised around an explicit account of the relation between social theory and practical life. The book has the special merit of being a good overview of the principal current ideas about the relation between social theory and political practice, as well as an attempt at providing a new and more satisfactory account of this relationship. To accomplish this task, it synthesises work from the analytic philosophy of social science with that of the neo-Marxism of the Frankfurt school.

Download or read book Social Policy written by Spicker, Paul and published by Policy Press. This book was released on 2014-03-20 with total page 411 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Social Policy: Theory and practice is a fully revised, updated and extended edition of a bestselling social policy textbook, extensively reworked and adapted to meet the needs of its international readership. The book lays out the architecture of social policy as a field of study, binding the discussion of theory to the understanding of social policy in practice. It aims to provide students and practitioners with a sense of the scope, range and purpose of the subject while developing critical awareness of problems, issues and common fallacies. Written in an accessible and engaging style, it explains what social policy is and why it matters; looks at social policy in its social context; considers policy, the role of the state and the social services; explores issues in social administration and service delivery; and focuses on the methods and approaches of the subject. For practitioners, there are discussions of the techniques and approaches used to apply social policy in practice. For students, there are boxes raising issues and reviewing case studies, questions for discussion and a detailed glossary. The book’s distinctive, path–breaking approach makes it invaluable for students studying social policy at a range levels, professionals and practitioners in the field of social policy.

Download or read book Social Theory of International Politics written by Alexander Wendt and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 1999-10-07 with total page 264 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Drawing upon philosophy and social theory, Social Theory of International Politics develops a theory of the international system as a social construction. Alexander Wendt clarifies the central claims of the constructivist approach, presenting a structural and idealist worldview which contrasts with the individualism and materialism which underpins much mainstream international relations theory. He builds a cultural theory of international politics, which takes whether states view each other as enemies, rivals or friends as a fundamental determinant. Wendt characterises these roles as 'cultures of anarchy', described as Hobbesian, Lockean and Kantian respectively. These cultures are shared ideas which help shape state interests and capabilities, and generate tendencies in the international system. The book describes four factors which can drive structural change from one culture to another - interdependence, common fate, homogenization, and self-restraint - and examines the effects of capitalism and democracy in the emergence of a Kantian culture in the West.

Download or read book Social Theory and Social Policy written by James S. Coleman and published by Praeger. This book was released on 1993-07-30 with total page 286 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Social Theory and Social Practice is a collection of essays theory and research developments that were advanced by a figure at the forefront of contemporary American and international sociology--James S. Coleman. Themes that run through Coleman's diverse body of work are the subject of this volume. Essays focus on his contributions to social theory (emphasizing formulations which have policy implications) and applications of sociology in public affairs. Coleman's contributions have profoundly influenced and, in several cases, defined the agenda for important sub-fields of sociology: sociological theory and methods, sociology of education, sociology of the family, political sociology, mathematical sociology, communications research, and social stratification. Following an introductory section, Part Two, Policy-Relevant Social Theory, includes essays by some of our most eminent social scientists, including James Buchanan, Arthur Stinchcombe, Raymond Boudon, Gordon Tullock, Benjamin Zablocki, and Gudmund Hernes. Part Three, Sociology of Education contains essays by Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan, Diane Ravitch, and Sarane Boocock on Coleman's pioneering work in the field. Part Four, Social Structure and Social Policy, discusses the profound influence of Coleman's oeuvre on public affairs. Chapter authors include Seymour Sspilerman, Noah Levin-Epstein and Moshe Semyenov of Tel Aviv University, Michael Hechter and Satoshi Kanazawa, Seymour Martin Lipset, Erik Van Hove, and Henrik Kreutz. Recommended for scholars in the fields of sociology, education, economics, and political science.

Download or read book Social Theory and Social Practice written by and published by Transaction Publishers. This book was released on with total page 224 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Social Theory and Social Practice is a unique effort at applied social theory. Hans L. Zetterberg believes that social research has now advanced so far that social scientists can give advice without being restricted to new research projects. They can use previously proven theories as the basis for sound practical recommendations. This approach has profound implications in the application of social science to problems in business management, labor strife, government decision-making, in such areas as education, health and human welfare. It remains a pioneering discourse for practitioners of social research and social policy. Zetterberg gives a searching review of the various ways in which social practitioners attempt to use the accumulated knowledge of social science. He proceeds with a compact summary of the knowledge of the academicians of social science, noting that practitioners are often unaware of much useful academic knowledge. The process by which this knowledge is transformed into practical advice is spelled out in detail, and is illustrated with examples from an actual consultation about problems faced by an art museum that wanted to increase its audience. Chapter 1 identifies the problem; chapter 2, "The Knowledge of Social Practitioners," outlines practitioners' reliance on scientific knowledge; chapter 3, "The Knowledge of Social Theorists," discusses sociological terms and sociological law; chapter 4, "The Practical Use of Social Theory through Scholarly Consultants," explores the actual specificity of social theory and its uses, while the concluding chapter examines the uses of consultants, covering some prerequisites for the successful use of applied science. The book rejects the widespread view that in order to put social science to use, we have to popularize its content. Zetterberg's approach is rather to translate a client's problem into a powerful theoretical statement, the solution to which is calculated and then presented to the client as down-to-earth advice. This volume will be of immediate interest to scholars in the field of social theory; to consultants and practitioners who give advice on social problems and policy decisions; and to executives who use advice from social scientists. Hans L. Zetterberg was the founding director of the City University of Stockholm. Earlier he served as a consulting sociologist in New York City and a professor of sociology at Columbia University and then at Ohio State University. He is the author of On Theory and Verification in Sociology, Sexual Life in Sweden, and Before and Beyond the Welfare State. He has been the subject of a festschrift published by Transaction in 1999.

Download or read book Social Theory for Social Work written by Christopher Thorpe and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2017-09-28 with total page 224 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Trying to understand how the world looks through the eyes of individuals and groups and how it shapes the ways they think and act is something social workers do all the time. It is what social theorists do too. This book identifies and explains in a highly accessible manner the absolute value of social theory for social work. Drawing on the theoretical ideas and perspectives of a wide range of classical and modern social theorists, the book demonstrates the insights their work can bring to bear on a wide range of social work practice scenarios, issues and debates. Departing with the work of the classical theorists, the book covers a diverse range of theoretical traditions including phenomenology, symbolic interactionism, Norbert Elias, Michel Foucault, Pierre Bourdieu, feminism and globalization theory. Putting to work ideas from these different perspectives, a range of social work scenarios, issues and debates are opened up and explored. The final chapter brings together the various theoretical strands, and critically considers the contribution they can make towards realizing core social work values in a rapidly globalizing world. Demonstrating exactly how and in what ways social theory can make important and enduring contributions to social work, Social Theory for Social Work is essentialial reading for social work students, practitioners and professionals alike.

Download or read book Social Theory and the Politics of Identity written by Craig Calhoun and published by Wiley-Blackwell. This book was released on 1994-10-20 with total page 364 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: New social movements of the post-war era have brought to prominence the idea that identity can be a crucial focus for political struggle. Linked to an increasing recognition that social theory itself must put the politics of identity on center stage, this volume impels social theorists not only to make sense of the "world out there", but also to make sense of differences within the discourse of theory.

Download or read book The Structure of Social Theory written by Anthony King and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2012 with total page 280 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Over the last three decades, social theory has become an increasingly important subdiscipline within sociology. Social theory has attempted to elucidate the philosophical basis of sociology by defining the nature of social reality. According to social theory, society consists of objective institutions, structure, on the one hand, and individuals, agency on the other, it promotes human social relations, insisting that in every instance social reality consists of these relations.

Download or read book Social Theory Social Policy And Ageing A Critical Introduction written by Biggs, Simon and published by McGraw-Hill Education (UK). This book was released on 2003-11-01 with total page 200 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This work covers theoretical developments and issues influencing the study of adult ageing. It explores contemporary trends in social policy drawing on the experience of ageing in the USA, Europe and an increasingly global environment. Feminist perspectives on ageing are also covered.

Download or read book Politics Sociology and Social Theory written by Anthony Giddens and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2013-05-28 with total page 381 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Built upon a series of critical encounters with major figures in classical and present-day social and political thought, this volume offers not only a challenging critique of major traditions of social and political analysis, but unique insights into the ideas which Giddens has developed over the past two decades.

Download or read book Social Theory and Social Policy written by Robert Pinker and published by Taylor & Francis. This book was released on 2022-12-15 with total page 135 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Originally published in 1971 and now reissued with a new Preface by John Offer this book examines the historical origins, (both institutional and academic) of social policy and administration and the theoretical contribution of such key figures in the development of the social sciences as Marx, Spencer, Weber and Durkheim. It then analyses the application of normative theory in this field; examines the concepts of exchange and stigma in social welfare; and looks at the idea of citizenship and the use of the social services. In a final section the author presents a number of models of social welfare.

Download or read book Social Theory Ideas in Profile written by William Outhwaite and published by Profile Books. This book was released on 2015-11-19 with total page 135 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Ideas in Profile: Small Introductions to Big Topics In a world that is constantly changing, understanding the world has never been more important. But by thinking in neat segments, we miss the big picture. When economists think about globalisation, they often see trade; politicians see institutions and power; artists see a new global aesthetic. Social theory is what sees them all together. Renowned theorist William Outhwaite takes us on a journey through the major thinkers and topics of this often misunderstood discipline. We move from the the work of Rousseau to the still powerful insights of Marx and on to the great sociologists, Weber and Durkheim. We probe the big questions - why is religion powerful, where does capitalism come from - and move through the key ideas of the twentieth century thought from the Frankfurt School to Bourdieu and Giddens. Lastly Outhwaite questions the role of social theory today. Where does this vital discipline go next and how will its wide horizons help us stand up to the challenge of the twenty-first century?

Download or read book Introducing Social Theory written by Pip Jones and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2017-11-27 with total page 238 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This revised edition of this extremely popular introduction to social theory has been carefully and thoroughly updated with the latest developments in this continually changing field. Written in a refreshingly lucid and engaging style, Introducing Social Theory provides readers with a wide-ranging, well organized and thematic introduction to all the major thinkers, issues and debates in classical and contemporary social theory. Introducing Social Theory traces the development of social theorizing from the classical ideas about modernity of Durkheim, Marx and Weber, right up to a uniquely accessible review of the contemporary theoretical controversies in sociology that surround post-colonialism, gender and feminist theories, and public sociology. The ideal textbook for students of sociology at all levels, from A-level to undergraduates, Introducing Social Theory is remarkably easy to follow and understand. This new edition lives up to its predecessors' goal that students need never be intimidated by social theory again.

Download or read book Social Work and Social Theory written by Paul Michael Garrett and published by Policy Press. This book was released on 2013 with total page 264 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In order to work effectively, social workers need to understand theoretical concepts and develop critical theory. In Social Work and Social Theory, Paul Michael Garrett seeks to bring the profession into dialogue with the anticapitalist movement and encourages a new engagement with theorists such as Antonio Gramsci, Pierre Bourdieu, and Nancy Fraser. It provides an accessible and exhilarating introduction for practitioners, students, and social work academics interested in social theory and critical social policy. It will be a vital resource aiding anyone intent on creating a more radical social work and a useful teaching tool to spark lively classroom discussion.

Download or read book Social Theory for Today written by Alex Law and published by SAGE. This book was released on 2014-12-01 with total page 659 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book is distinctive for extending the usual sociological reach, reopening territory that has lain fallow, set aside from the well-ploughed fields of orthodox social theory. In doing so, Law not only produces fresh insight into familiar theorists but guards against collective forgetting of the sociological canon. - Professor Bridget Fowler, University of Glasgow "An excellent book, it will be welcomed and read widely by advanced undergraduates, postgraduates and scholars in sociology, cultural studies, social theory and beyond." - Professor Chris Shilling, University of Kent Social Theory for Today guides students through the ‘turns’ of past and present social theory as it attempts to wrestle with a recurring sense of crisis in social relations and social theory. Drawing on both classical and contemporary sources, Alex Law provides readers with a firm grasp of competing perspectives. Too often social theories attempt to dominate the field by casting rival theorists, past and present, as deluded fools, while the more familiar ‘big names’ in social theory are subject to ever-increasing commentary that runs in ever-decreasing circles. This survey of social theory and crisis lessens the temptation to engage in internal theoretical polemics and esoteric wordplay. Social theory must become practical and specific if it is to become a means of orientation for uncertain times. This is a must-read for upper level undergraduate and postgraduate students looking for a vibrant and extended understanding of social theory.

Download or read book Social Theory and Health Education written by Deana Leahy and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2020-03-27 with total page 270 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Social Theory and Health Education brings together health education scholarship with a diverse range of social theories to demonstrate the value and impact of their application to associated health and education contexts. For the first time, this book draws together cutting-edge research that demonstrates the productive and impactful ways social theory can be applied to the diversity of research in this field. Topics covered include digital health, health education in sexuality, gender and health, food and nutrition, mental health and wellbeing, environment, and alcohol and drug use. In exploring these topics, each author utilises different theorists and concepts to compellingly demonstrate their application to a range of health education research contexts. This collection provides examples for both students, early career and established scholars that showcase ways that social theory can be utilised in empirical and theoretical research. The collection also highlights how health education scholarship can be enhanced by engaging with social theory. It also explores the viability of various theories for work in this field, and their potential to generate new approaches for research.