Social Theory in the Twentieth Century

This account of the development of social theory covers a wide range of important figures and schools of thought, including Giddens, Foucault and Habermas. Aiming to be lively and to avoid jargon, it is intended for students who wish to understand the main debates and dilemmas which drive social theory. Rather than providing a neutral summary of the different thinkers and theories, the author challenges the conventional readings with new interpretations, in effect bridging the gap between philosophy and social theory by placing the theoretical views within wider historical traditions.