Overview

"Theories of Social Inequality provides an engaging, authoritative, and comprehensive introduction to the way in which theorists view the social construction of inequality. First grounding his discussion in the work of major classical theorists, such as Karl Marx, Max Weber, and Emile Durkheim, the author then considers more recent theories and theorists, including those of Ralf Dahrendorf, Gerhard Lenski, Nico Poulantzas, Erik Olin Wright, Frank Parkin, Anthony Giddens, and others. Professor Grabb also links theories of economic inequality to theories of racial and ethnic inequality, and considers the ways in which inequality has been affected by globalization. The connections among economic power, ideological power, and political power are also considered. As the author writes in the introduction, ""In my view, our present circumstances and our likely future hinge in large measure on how we deal with social inequality. Indeed, I believe that the problem of social inequality is more important to understand and resolve now than at any time since the 1930s and 1940s."" ""Edward Grabb's authoritative examination of key theories of social inequality is a unique international classic. It provides an accessible introduction for new students and non-academics, while at the same time offering innovative analyses of key themes developed from classical to contemporary theory, a feature that repays reading and re-reading by scholars at the cutting edge of the field. Each important theorist is placed in political and ideological context, and the significance of unresolved empirical issues is identified. This book has the enduring capacity to inspire new understandings of social inequality so imperative in today's world."" ---Jeffrey G. Reitz, Professor Emeritus of Sociology and R. F. Harney Professor Emeritus of Ethnic, Immigration, and Pluralism Studies, University of Toronto"

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9781772443202

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Reviews

"""Edward Grabb's authoritative examination of key theories of social inequality is a unique international classic. It provides an accessible introduction for new students and non-academics, while at the same time offering innovative analyses of key themes developed from classical to contemporary theory, a feature that repays reading and re-reading by scholars at the cutting edge of the field. Each important theorist is placed in political and ideological context, and the significance of unresolved empirical issues is identified. This book has the enduring capacity to inspire new understandings of social inequality so imperative in today's world."" ---Jeffrey G. Reitz, Professor Emeritus of Sociology and R. F. Harney Professor Emeritus of Ethnic, Immigration, and Pluralism Studies, University of Toronto ""The author has a fine pedagogical talent and the ability to summarize the highlights of theoretical positions without watering them down.... He writes with lucidity and exemplary clarity. He must be a gifted teacher."" ---Lewis Coser, late of the State University of New York at Stony Brook, former President of the American Sociological Association ""The [book] is of a very high quality.... The author knows and correctly interprets a wide variety of material from classical and contemporary sociologists. An examination of these writings with reference to long-standing issues regarding inequality results in a coherent integrated work on the topic that is unique in the literature."" ---Robert Perrucci, Purdue University ""[This] well-written and tightly argued book will prove useful in courses on social inequality and sociological theory. This is an absolutely first-rate survey of the general approaches to social inequality."" ---James Curtis, late of the University of Waterloo ""A thorough introduction to classical and contemporary theorists of power and class."" ---Wallace Clement, Carleton University ""In relatively simple language, the author explains many difficult and complex issues and concepts. This makes the book very accessible to students, as well as wider, non-academic audiences."" ---Jill Bystydzienski, The Ohio State University ""A well-focused and clear account of the major sociological approaches to the general understanding of inequality."" ---Stewart Clegg, University of Technology Sydney"

Author Information

Edward G. Grabb is a professor emeritus in the Department of Sociology at Western University. Professor Grabb's areas of interest include Canadian and American society, social inequality and stratification, political sociology, race and ethnic relations, and methodology and statistics. His papers have appeared in such journals as the American Sociological Review, Social Forces, the Canadian Journal of Political Science, and the Canadian Journal of Sociology. He is also the co-author (with the late James Curtis) of Regions Apart: The Four Societies of Canada and the United States.

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