All sociology is implicitly critical because the sociological perspective questions and debunks what common sense takes for granted. Some sociology is explicitly critical of how the domination of states, corporations, the media, and other powerful institutions attenuate our potential for living autonomous lives in today's world. In Critical Sociology, Buechler explores sociology's double critique. The book opens with chapters on how to think sociologically; an overview of the scientific, humanistic, and critical schools of sociology; and a more detailed exposition of the critical tradition. He applies this critical tradition to economics, politics, and culture; to class, race, and gender; to individualism, self, and identity; and to globalization, social movements, and democracy.
Biography
Steven M Buechler
“A well-written and accessible introduction to critical sociology. It manages to be strong theoretically and to deal with some of the most pressing social issues of the day from a well-developed critical perspective.”George Ritzer, University of Maryland“Steven Buechler’s new text, Critical Sociology, is a very well written, very well thought out, careful, and sophisticated book. The material is clearly presented, the arguments are well thought through.”Michael Kimmel, SUNY Stony Brook
“Critical Sociology is highly accessible and may be suitable as a textbook for undergraduate or graduate level sociology courses. It may otherwise be of interest to sociologists interested in how sociology can contribute to progressive social change.”
—Contemporary Sociology