Authors:
Introduces non-Western and female social thinkers with the aim of universalizing the canon
Contextualizes classical sociological theory to establish relevant reference points for a global academic community
Critiques the Eurocentrism and androcentrism in accounts of the development of sociological theory
Formulates an alternative way of teaching sociological theory
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Table of contents (12 chapters)
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Front Matter
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Back Matter
About this book
This book expands the sociological canon by introducing non-Western and female voices, and subjects the existing canon itself to critique. Including chapters on both the ‘founding fathers’ of sociology and neglected thinkers it highlights the biases of Eurocentrism and androcentrism, while also offering much-needed correctives to them. The authors challenge a dominant account of the development of sociological theory which would have us believe that it was only Western European and later North American white males in the nineteenth and early twentieth century who thought in a creative and systematic manner about the origins and nature of the emerging modernity of their time. This integrated and contextualised account seeks to restructure the ways in which we theorise the emergence of the classical sociological canon. This book’s global scope fills a significant lacuna and provides a unique teaching resource to students of classical sociological theory.
Reviews
“Syed Farid Alatas and Vineeta Sinha have done sociology a great service in this guide to early social thinkers. Transcending the narrow definition of what is ‘classical’, they include women's social thought as well as men's, and thinkers from North Africa and West, South, and South-east Asia as well as Europe. With extracts from the writings and informative commentaries about the ideas, this book will broaden horizons for all teachers and students of social thought.” (Raewyn Connell, University of Sydney, Australia, and author of Southern Theory)
“This is a remarkably powerful book (and textbook) whose very form underscores the precision and thoughtfulness of its conception. Unlike other books that simply curse eurocentrism and androcentrism that remain persistent biases in the teaching of the social sciences, this book offers an alternative account of sociological theory. It is not about the southern theory but the way social theories coming from the north and the south enter into cross-border interactions. Ibn Khaldun, José Rizal, Benoy Kumar Sarkar, as well as women thinkers: Harriet Martineau, Florence Nightingale, and Pandita Ramabai will converse with Durkheim, Marx and Weber. Alatas’ and Sinha’s lucid book is timely and immensely needed.” (Sari Hanafi, American University of Beirut, Lebanon, and Vice President for National Associations of the International Sociological Association)
Authors and Affiliations
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Sociology, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
Syed Farid Alatas, Vineeta Sinha
About the authors
Syed Farid Alatas is Professor of Sociology, at the National University of Singapore. His areas of interest are the sociology of Islam, social theory, religion and reform, and intra- and inter-religious dialogue. He is the author of Ibn Khaldun and Applying Ibn Khaldun: The Recovery of a Lost Tradition in Sociology.
Vineeta Sinha is Professor and Head of the South Asian Studies Programme and of the Department of Sociology at the National University of Singapore. Her areas of interest are Hindu religiosity in the Diaspora, religion and commodification processes and religion-state encounters. Her recent books are Religion and Commodification: Merchandising Diasporic Hinduism, Religion-State Encounters in Hindu Domains: From the Straits Settlements to Singapore and Indians.
Bibliographic Information
Book Title: Sociological Theory Beyond the Canon
Authors: Syed Farid Alatas, Vineeta Sinha
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-41134-1
Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan London
eBook Packages: Social Sciences, Social Sciences (R0)
Copyright Information: The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s) 2017
Hardcover ISBN: 978-1-137-41133-4Published: 07 June 2017
eBook ISBN: 978-1-137-41134-1Published: 27 May 2017
Edition Number: 1
Number of Pages: X, 391
Topics: Sociological Theory, Social Theory, Philosophy of the Social Sciences, Imperialism and Colonialism