Critical Sociology

Critical Sociology is a thoroughly revised, updated, and sophisticated introduction to the sociological perspective as a critical lens on society. Much has happened since the first edition: the Great Recession, the Obama presidency, the burgeoning role of social media, and recent global social movements such the Tea Party, Occupy Wall Street, and the Arab Spring. In this second edition, Buechler discusses the changing relationship between social movements and democracy. The book opens with chapters on how to think sociologically; an overview of scientific, humanistic, and critical schools of sociology; and a detailed exposition of the critical tradition. He applies this tradition to economics, politics, and culture; to class, race, and gender; to individualism, self, and identity; and to globalization. Features of the text: Updates in every chapter, with new coverage of the recent world economic crisis, the Tea Party & Occupy movements, new social media, and more Offers succinct summaries of major theoretical traditions Provides new analyses of feminism and the social construction of masculinity Adds a section on the relation between social movements, democratization, and electoral politics