In this comprehensive and clear introduction to contemporary social
theory, Anthony Elliott and Charles Lemert explore the major theoretical
traditions from the Frankfurt School to the digital revolution and
beyond. Fully revised and updated, this second edition has been expanded
to consider the most recent developments in social theory, including a
new chapter on the digital revolution and the increasingly significant
impact of technological developments (such as artificial intelligence,
machine learning and robotics) on society, culture and politics.
Introduction to Contemporary Social Theory provides the reader with a
superb overview of key developments in social theory, including the
Frankfurt School, American pragmatism, structuralism,
post-structuralism, feminism, globalization and world-systems theory. In
doing so, the textbook explores the ideas of a wide range of social
theorists, including Theodor Adorno, Herbert Marcuse, Talcott Parsons,
Erving Goffman, Harold Garfinkel, Michel Foucault, Jacques Lacan,
Jacques Derrida, C. Wright Mills, Anthony Giddens, Pierre Bourdieu,
Julia Kristeva, Jürgen Habermas, Judith Butler, Slavoj Zizek, Manuel
Castells, Cornel West, Immanuel Wallerstein and Zygmunt Bauman.
This textbook provides stylish exposition with powerful social critique
and original insights. It will be indispensable to students and
academics alike.
