Contested Knowledge: Social Theory Today, 5th Edition

Praise for the 5th edition:

In this tour de force, Steven Seidman surveys social theory from Auguste Comte to Zygmunt Bauman via feminism, world systems theory, queer theory, post-colonialism and much more. It is not just a survey, but rather a plea for a public sociology that is relevant, committed and morally challenging. In a style of writing that is at once direct, personal and engaging, Seidman provides a penetrating overview of the state of sociology that is critical but optimistic. Contested Knowledge now in its fifth edition gets better with age.

Bryan S. Turner, The City University of New York

A very valuable update to this superb and exceptionally readable book. The new chapters are a significant contribution in their own right: the chapter on ‘the Other’ is a major achievement.

William Outhwaite, Newcastle University

In his spirited defense of theory as a moral enterprise, Steven Seidman offers insightful, penetrating, critical, but always fair assessments of the theoretical contributions of a wide range of theorists past and present.... Written with an enviable clarity, in a style that is at once lucid and engaging.

Peter Kivisto, Augustana College and University of Turku