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Encyclopedia of Social Theory
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Encyclopedia of Social Theory

Two Volume Set
Edited by:

August 2004 | 1 056 pages | SAGE Publications, Inc
Click 'Additional Materials' for downloadable samples

The Encyclopedia of Social Theory is an indispensable reference source for anyone interested in the roots of contemporary social theory. It examines the global landscape of all the key theories and the theorists behind them, presenting them in the context needed to understand their strengths and weaknesses.

Theories covered include
• Critical Theory
• Enlightenment
• Ethnomethodology
• Exchange Theory
• Feminism
• Marxist Theory
• Multiculturalism
• Phenomenology
• Postmodernism
• Rational Choice
• Structural Fundamentalism

Led by internationally renowned scholar George Ritzer, the Encyclopedia of Social Theory draws together a team of more than 200 international scholars covering the developments, achievements, and prospects of social theory from its inception in the 18th century to the present. Understanding that social theory can both explain and alter the social world, this two-volume set serves as not only a foundation for learning, but also an inspiration for creative and reflexive engagement with the rich range of ideas it contains.

Key Themes
• American Social Theory
• British Social Theory
• Comparative and Historical Theory
• Cultural Theory
• Economic Sociology
• Feminist Theory
• French Social Theory
• German Social Theory
• Macrosociological Theories
• Marxist and Neo-Marxist Approaches
• Method and Metatheory
• Network and Exchange Theories
• Other/Multiple National Traditions
• Politics and Government
• Postmodern Theory
• Psychoanalytic Theory
• Schools and Theoretical Approaches
• Symbolic Interaction and Microsociology
• Theorists
• Topics and Concepts in Social Theory

Key Features
• More than 300 entries from fourteen countries
• Master Bibliography
• Reader's Guide
• Extensive biographical coverage of major theorists
• Extensive cross-referencing

"On the whole, this will be a useful resource for beginning researchers in the social sciences, or users requiring basic definitions or biographies. Recommended for large public and academic libraries."

Ellen D. Gilbert
Princeton
LIBRARY JOURNAL

"Ritzer has assembled a wonderfully rich resource on social theory. Any subject encyclopedia's aims are to be on point, authoritative, and intelligible, and to lead readers to further information; Ritzer's meets those aims. . . . Highly recommended."

S.W. Nicholson
Michigan State University
CHOICE

This scholarly guide surveys the fundamental ideas of social theory and the contributions of social theorists from the Enlightenment to the present. . . . this useful guide provides an excellent starting place for both student and scholar, and it is highly recommended for academic libraries.

John R.M. Lawrence
East Carolina University
Lawrence Looks at Books
Key features
  • Global perspective with contributors from around the world
  • Renowned sociologist on the editorial board
  • Interdisciplinary focus

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Rent or Buy eBook
ISBN: 9781452265469

Hardcover
ISBN: 9780761926115
$580.00

This title is also available on SAGE Knowledge, the ultimate social sciences online library. If your library doesn’t have access, ask your librarian to start a trial.