Abigail Halcli & Gary Browning 
Understanding Contemporary Society 
Theories of the Present

Understanding Contemporary Society: Theories of the Present is a comprehensive textbook to guide students through the complexities of social theory today. Over 30 chapters, written by an international team of contributors, demonstrate clearly the practical applications of social theory in making sense of the modern world. Students are both introduced to the most significant theories and guided through the major social developments which shape our lives.

Key features of the book are: clearly structured and readable prose; bullet pointed summaries and annotated further reading for each topic; makes complex issues accessible to undergraduates; focuses on relevance and practicality; chapter lay-out which is ideal for teaching and seminar readings.

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Theory, Theorists and Themes – Gary Browning, Abigail Halcli and Frank Webster

A User′s Guide to Understanding the Present

PART ONE: THEORIES

Postmodernism – Christopher Norris

A Guide for the Perplexed

Post-Feminism – Mich[gr]ele Barrett

Post-History – Krishan Kumar

Living at the End

Post-Marxism – Terrell Carver

Post-Colonialism and Beyond – Don Robotham

Reflexive Modernization – Ted Benton

Narrative – Susan Stephenson

Rational Choice Theory – John Scott

Complexity Theory – Tim Blackman

Contemporary Liberalism – Gary Browning

Democracy – Nick Hewlett

Liberal and Direct

Communitarianism – Elizabeth Frazer

New Thinking in International Relations – Kimberly Hutchings

Utopia and Dystopia – Stephen Crook

PART TWO: THEMES

Post-Modernity – David Lyon

Globalization – Barrie Axford

Restructuring – Andy Kilmister

Cities in the Global Economy – Saskia Sassen

Cultural Studies – Rick Maxwell

Intellectuals – Carl Boggs

Higher Education – Frank Webster

Mass Communication – Kaarle Nordenstreng

The Web – Vincent Mosco

Nationalism – Murray Low

Islam – Sarah Ansari

Cultural Pluralism Today – Avigail Eisenberg

Families and Households – Mary Maynard

The Body – Chris Shilling

Intimate Choices – Ken Plummer

Environmentalism – David Pepper

Social Movements – Abigail Halcli

Social Inequalities – Harriet Bradley

Coming to Terms with Complexity

Über den Autor

Professor Frank Webster comes from a small coal-mining village in the south west of County Durham in North East England. He attended Coundon Junior School from 1956-62 and Spennymoor Secondary School from 1962-69, then read Sociology at the University of Durham (BA, MA, 1972, 1974). He completed his formal studies at the London School of Economics (LSE, Ph D 1978