University of Toronto Press Capitalism and Classical Social Theory

Capitalism and Classical Social Theory provides a solid foundation for understanding contemporary debates on social theory. It provides in-depth coverage of the works of Marx, Durkheim, and Weber, and selectively extends that coverage by examining the important works of Georg Simmel, early feminist social writers, and W.E.B. Du Bois. The result is a manageable, but thorough, introduction to key classical theorists. The second edition has been updated throughout and includes two new chapters: one on Weber and rationalization and one on W.E.B. Du Bois. A new concluding chapter links classical theory to current developments in capitalism during an age of austerity. Review This book offers an interesting discussion of the development of sociological theory, with a specific emphasis on the ways that capitalism shaped the field of sociology during its early years...Its presentation of the social, historical, and economic context from which early sociological theory emerged is exemplary: detailed, thorough, and compelling. --Teaching Sociology About the Author John Bratton is Adjunct Professor in the Centre for Work and Community Studies at Athabasca University and Visiting Professor at Edinburgh Napier University in the UK. David Denham is Honourary Research Fellow at Wolverhampton University in the UK.