ABSTRACT
This chapter aims to provide students with an understanding of the broad sweep of foundational sociological theories. Sociology as a discipline emerged in a period of social, political, and industrial upheaval following two revolutions. The French Revolution brought ideals of liberty, the rights of citizenship, and led to the rise of the modern nation state; while the Industrial Revolution transformed the way people lived and worked. Many of the ideas and concepts of the early theorists were developed to understand the impact of such dramatic social change, the legacies of which still persist today. For example, Karl Marx’s critique of capitalism and Max Weber’s understanding of the rise of bureaucracy endure and remain relevant despite being formulated over a century ago. Some commentators, though, critique the foundational theories for upholding European intellectual traditions and dominating the discipline with their ‘imperial gaze.’
