Overview

In the aftermath of its near-demise by fascism and Stalinism, the resurgence of historical sociology has been one of the most important developments in contemporary sociology and history. Dennis Smith traces the spectacular growth of interest in social history in the West in a much-needed survey that combines lively critique of key works with a framework of interpretation for this intellectual field. He locates the 'second long wave' of historical sociology extending from the post-World War II era into the present and provides a reliable and informative guide to the most influential authors who have contributed to this field in recent times. Describing this discipline as the study of the past to find out how societies work and change, the author identifies three phases of postwar historical sociology. These periods were shaped by the battle with totalitarianism; the protest movements for student rights, Black Power, an end to the Vietnam War; the Women's Movement; and the fragmentation of the stable bipolar world of the Cold War. Within the context of these socio-political eras, Smith discusses the work of the following historical sociologists: Parsons, Smelser, Eisenstadt, Lipset, Marshall, Bendix, Bloch, Elias, Moore, Thompson, Skocpol, Tilly, Anderson, Wallerstein, Braudel, Mann, Runciman, and Giddens. Author note: Dennis Smith is Reader in Sociology at Aston University (UK).

Full Product Details

Author:   D Smith
Publisher:   Temple University Press,U.S.
Imprint:   Temple University Press,U.S.
Dimensions:   Width: 15.00cm , Height: 1.50cm , Length: 25.00cm
Weight:   0.666kg
ISBN:  

9780877229193

ISBN 10:   0877229198
Pages:   1
Publication Date:   22 October 1991
Audience:   Professional and scholarly ,  Professional & Vocational
Format:   Hardback
Publisher's Status:   Out of Stock Indefinitely
Availability:   Out of stock  

Table of Contents

Preface List of figures 1. Like a Phoenix Rising The post-war resurgence of historical sociology What is historical sociology? Three phases of post-war historical sociology 2. Out of the Ashes War and peace The end of ideology? The American way: Parsons and Smelser Interpreting social dynamism Handling and channeling social change A laboratory report The sociologist as patriot Three ways to persuade Citizenship and social class Order and justice Old empires, new nations: Eisenstadt and Lipset Ideology and social conflict: Marshall and Bendix 3. Taking Flight Injustice and domination Human interdependence: Bloch and Elias Feudal society The civilizing process An uppity generation? Two critical rationalists: Moore and Thompson Social origins of dictatorship and democracy The making of the English working class Moral codes and human choice States and social revolutions Comparing and explaining Skocpol, Trotsky and Eisenstadt The politics of social policy Counter-revolution Collective action Coercion, capital and European states Reason and revolution: Skocpol and Tilly 4. Soaring High History from above Two Marxian perspectives: Anderson and Wallerstein From ancient Greece to absolutist monarchy The figures of descent The capitalist world-economy Comparing Wallerstein and Anderson Infrastructures of power: Braudel and Mann Evolution and discontinuity (1) The longue duree The Mediterranean world Civilization and capitalism The sources of social power Greece and Rome The European dynamic Classes, nations, states and warfare Constructing theories: Runciman and Giddens The methodology of social theory Social evolution Structuration or evolution? From class-divided to class societies Surveillance and citizenship Nationalism Evolution and discontinuity (2) 5. Historical Sociology in the 1990s Historical sociology as an intellectual field Established and outsiders Involvement and detachment Exploration, generalization and theory Strategies of explanation Historical sociology and capitalist democracy The first phase: democracy expounded The second phase: democracy exposed The third phase: capitalism explored and exposed The fourth phase: democracy re-examined A new audience for historical sociology The future of the past Notes Bibliography Index

Reviews

Fresh in conception, fair, and elegantly written, a valuable guide to historical work by sociologists. --Charles Tilly, New School for Social Research

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