Themes and Perspectives In Contemporary Sociology

Book excerpt: The contemporary discipline of sociology is theoretically multi-paradigmatic. Modern sociological theory descends from the historical foundations of functionalist and conflict-centered accounts of social structure, as well as the micro-scale structural and pragmatist theories of social interaction. Contemporary sociological theory retains traces of these approaches. Presently, sociological theories lack a single overarching foundation, and there is little consensus about what such a framework should consist of. However, a number of broad paradigms cover much present sociological theorizing. In the humanistic parts of the discipline, these paradigms are referred to as social theory and are often shared with the humanities. The discipline’s dominant scientifically-oriented areas generally focus on a different set of theoretical perspectives, which by contrast are generally referred to as a sociological theory. These include sociological field theory, new institutionalism, social networks, social identity, social and cultural capital, toolkit and cognitive theories of culture, and resource mobilization. Analytical sociology is an ongoing effort to systematize many of these middle-range theories. In order to value the importance of sociological perspective, it is significant to realize that sociology as a discipline arose within distinct historical, intellectual and social contexts. Major questions were raised about the individual & society these questions preoccupied thinkers in all periods of history, but these philosophical analyses of society were untested assumptions about the motives of human beings in their behaviour lacking systematic analysis of the structure and workings in society. This book covers all the aspects of this subject. It is hoped, the book will be found to be of immense value to the students of this subject. Contents: • Urban Stratification, Status and Mobility • The Village Community • Folk Society • Cultural Power • Creativity and Human History • Theory of Civilization in the Sociology of Culture • Political Communication • Political Culture • Political Leadership • Criminalization and Domination • Culture and Anarchy • Sociology of Religion • A Woman’s Place in Social Hierarchy