ABSTRACT

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.

part One|51 pages

Sociological Perspectives

chapter Chapter 1|13 pages

How to Think Sociologically

chapter Chapter 2|17 pages

The Legacy of the Discipline

chapter Chapter 3|17 pages

Toward a Critical Sociology

part Two|55 pages

Power and Domination

chapter Chapter 4|17 pages

A Late Capitalist World

chapter Chapter 5|17 pages

The State of the State

chapter Chapter 6|17 pages

A Mass-Mediated World

part Three|52 pages

Inequality and Difference

chapter Chapter 7|16 pages

The Crucible of Class

chapter Chapter 8|16 pages

The Social Construction of Race

chapter Chapter 9|18 pages

Gendered Selves and Worlds

part Four|48 pages

Self and Society

chapter Chapter 10|15 pages

The Emergence of the Individual

chapter Chapter 11|16 pages

How We Become Who We Are

chapter Chapter 12|14 pages

The Sociology of Everyday Life

part Five|43 pages

Patterns of Change

chapter Chapter 13|16 pages

The Challenge of Globalization

chapter Chapter 14|14 pages

The Role of Social Movements

chapter Chapter 15|11 pages

The Case for Democracy