Contemporary Social Theory: An introduction

Front Cover
Taylor & Francis, Dec 15, 2008 - Social Science - 376 pages

This book is arguably the definitive undergraduate textbook on contemporary social theory. Written by one of the world’s most acclaimed social theorists, Anthony Elliott provides a dazzlingly accessible and comprehensive introduction to modern social theory from the Frankfurt School to globalization theories and beyond.

In distilling the essentials of social theory, Elliott reviews the works of major theorists including Theodor Adorno, Herbert Marcuse, Michel Foucault, Jacques Lacan, Jacques Derrida, Anthony Giddens, Pierre Bourdieu, Julia Kristeva, Jurgen Habermas, Judith Butler, Slavoj Zizek, Manuel Castells, Ulrich Beck, Zygmunt Bauman, Giorgio Agamben and Manuel De Landa.

Every social theorist discussed is contextualized in a wider political and historical context, and from which their major contributions to social theory are critically assessed. This book is essential reading for students and professionals in the fields of social theory, sociology and cultural studies, as it is both an original enquiry and a consummate introduction to social theory.

About the author (2008)

Anthony Elliott is Professor of Sociology at Flinders University, Australia and Visiting Research Chair at the Open University, UK. He is presently Head of Department at Flinders University, and has served as Associate Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research). He was previously Professor of Sociology at the University of Kent at Canterbury, UK, as well as Foundation Director of the Centre for Critical Theory, University of the West of England. His writings have been published in over twenty languages, and he is internationally acclaimed for his research in social theory, the sociology of culture and psychoanalytic studies. His recent books include Critical Visions (2003), Social Theory Since Freud (2004), The New Individualism (with Charles Lemert, 2006), The Contemporary Bauman (2007), Concepts of the Self (2007, 2E), Making The Cut: How Cosmetic Surgery Is Transforming our Lives (2008) and Identity In Question (coedited with Paul du Gay, 2008).

Bibliographic information

TitleContemporary Social Theory: An introduction
AuthorAnthony Elliott
Editionillustrated, revised
PublisherTaylor & Francis, 2008
ISBN0203930541, 9780203930540
Length376 pages
Subjects ›  › 

Social Science / General
Social Science / Sociology / General
  
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