Roger Sibeon's distinctive new book forms part of a movement towards what many others have referred to as the `return' to sociological theory and method.
Offering both description and critique of contemporary theoretical and illustrative empirical materials, the goal of this book is a renewal of sociology and social theory that will facilitate worthwhile social knowledge that contributes to an understanding of the practical problems of making sense of social theory.Identifies and explores unresolved controversies and ambiguities in present day sociological theorizing.Introduction
The Legacy of Four Cardinal Sins
Metatheoretical Preliminaries
Agency-Structure and Micro-Macro
Link Between Theoretical Approaches
Three Major Contributors to Contemporary Sociological Theory
Archer, Mouzelis and Layder
Social Action, Power and Interests
Spatial Dimensions of the Social
Towards an Integrated Metatheoretical and Methodological Framework
Conclusion