ABSTRACT
This volume reconstructs Max Weber’s sociology of civilizations. Hence, it seeks to contribute to the expanding field of civilizational analysis. However, its central goal is to introduce Weber’s comparative-historical sociology in a manner that unveils a new realm of study; namely, it examines Weber’s ambitious and wide-ranging works that contribute strongly to the analysis of civilizations. Unlike many who contribute to this sub-field, Weber offers a rigorous mode of analysis. Scattered among a variety of texts, this research strategy must be reconstructed.
This chapter defines this goal vis-à-vis the Weber commentary and globalization theorists. It then offers a step-by-step overview of this volume’s chapters. It argues that the Weber reception has not adequately discussed his sociology as a systematic sociology of civilizations.
