Confronting Gouldner : : sociology and political activism / / by James J. Chriss.

• Superior document: Studies in Critical Social Sciences, Volume 76
• VerfasserIn: Chriss, James J., 1955-
• Place / Publishing House: Leiden, Netherlands ;, Boston, [Massachusetts] : : Brill,, 2015.; ©2015
• Year of Publication: 2015
• Edition: 1st ed.
• Language: English
• Series: Studies in critical social sciences ; Volume 76.
• Physical Description: 1 online resource (277 p.)
• Notes: Description based upon print version of record.

Alvin W. Gouldner (1920-1980) was a leading sociologist of his era who provided groundbreaking analyses in the areas of industrial sociology, critical sociological theory, ideology, reciprocity, and class analysis. Even as a self-avowed radical sociologist, Gouldner was unable to maintain allegiance to any particular theorist or theoretical school, for doing so could lead to theory becoming blind partisanship leading to unreflective and sometimes destructive practices (e.g., the problem of the communist dictator). In Confronting Gouldner James J. Chriss confronts the larger issue of the place of critical theory, and specifically Marxism, in framing the perspective of sociology as political activism. Through this confrontation with Gouldner, the author explores the implications of critical theory as it relates to social justice, marriage and family, religion, political activism, public sociology, and deviance and crime.

Table of Contents

Preliminary Material -- The Classics and Beyond -- Intellectuals and Radical Sociology -- Crime and Deviance -- Bourdieu and Reflexive Sociology -- Radical Politics and Soviet Sociology -- Religion and Critical Theory -- Social Justice, Politics, and Religion -- Locals, Cosmopolitans, and the Politics of a Global Humanity -- Mao and the Communist Horizon -- References -- Index.