TOPIC: Contemporary Sociological Theory INSTRUCTOR: Hazir Ullah Time: 9:00 am to 10:30am

Contemporary Sociological Theory Our every day life is filled with theory My focus is to highlight the continuity and relevance of classical and contemporary theory Classical ST (from the birth of sociology to 1935) Contemporary ST (from 1935 to the present) Frankfort School of critical theory

The Major Question for social thinkers were How societies actually operate? What hold societies together? How and why do societies change? How societies can be improved?

Area of concern for classical sociological theorists The nature of capitalism The basis of social solidarity The role of authority in social life The benefits and dangers posed by modern bureaucracy The issue of gender The issue of racism To explain the extraordinary economic, political, religious and social transformations that were taking place in Europe in the 19th century

The Answer of Classical Theorists to these questions August Comte (Religion of humanity, Programme of Social Reconstruction Herbert Spencer (social evolution / state evolution) Emile Durkheim (General Morality through education) Karl Marx (economic changes and the disorganizing effects. Demand or equal distribution of the labour output) Max Weber (Social Consequence, the power of Human ideas Talcott. Parson (AGIL)

1930 to 1970 (Functionalism was dominant approach) Talcott Parsons and Robert Merton

Few contemporary Sociological Theorists Arlie Russell Hochschild Dorothy Smith Judith Butler Max Horkheimer Theoder Adorno Herbert Marcuse Michel Foucault ean Baudrillard Pierre Bourdieu Realty is social constructed and is context bound Knowledge is subjective that serve the interest of those who produce it.

Argument of the contemporary sociological theory Max Horkheimer Theoder Adorno Herbert Marcuse Divisive rather than cohesive Oppressive and alienating character of modern society Theory from men’s perspective The absence of women voices Women agency Women is not a uniform category Dorothy Smith Judith Butler Knowledge is representation of reality not reality itself Reality has given way to simulation The reproduction of class relationship Michel Foucault Jean Baudrillard Pierre Bourdieu

Reference books Book: Sociological theory Author: George Ritizer Book: Classical and Contemporary Sociological Theory Authors: Scott Applerouth and L. Desfor Book: Introduction to Sociological Theory Author: Michele Dillon