Lynne Rienner Race, Class and the State in Contemporary Sociology: The William Julius Wilson Debates

A comprehensive guide to the current race-class debate in sociology, Race,Class, and the State traces the evolution of the controversy and analyzes current trends in the field. Focusing on the work legacy of William Julius Wilson and the arguments of his longstanding critics, Niemonen deftly illustrates the strengths, weaknesses, and influence of Wilson's work. His fair-minded but critical analysis calls for a major shift in how sociology conceptualizes race relations - a shift that challenges popular assumptions and contemporary vocabularies and brings to the forefront the role of the state.