Hardback
Rethinking Analytical Sociology
This discerning book outlines the methods, assumptions and achievements of analytical sociology, presenting it as a valuable research approach in the social sciences. Daniel Little argues that analytical sociology provides an ambitious basis for understanding and explaining a range of important social phenomena, while also engaging critically with several key theoretical assumptions of the approach that limit its generality.
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Critical Acclaim
Contents
More Information
This discerning book outlines the methods, assumptions and achievements of analytical sociology, presenting it as a valuable research approach in the social sciences. Daniel Little argues that analytical sociology provides an ambitious basis for understanding and explaining a range of important social phenomena, while also engaging critically with several key theoretical assumptions of the approach that limit its generality.
Chapters highlight analytical sociology’s empirical successes in public health, network analysis and political applications. Little demonstrates that current thinking in the field is limited by narrow conceptions of methodological individualism and the actor, and considers social issues such as racial health disparities in the USA, the rise of far-right authoritarian movements and the organizational causes of technology disasters within a broader theoretical framework. He argues that analytical approaches can be enriched through greater engagement with other areas of contemporary sociology, ultimately emphasizing that analytical sociology is a powerful tool when it acknowledges and moves beyond its preconceived limitations.
Rethinking Analytical Sociology is an essential tool for academics and students in sociology, political science, public health, public policy, and other social sciences. Its insights will also greatly benefit researchers seeking to understand new developments in the field.
Chapters highlight analytical sociology’s empirical successes in public health, network analysis and political applications. Little demonstrates that current thinking in the field is limited by narrow conceptions of methodological individualism and the actor, and considers social issues such as racial health disparities in the USA, the rise of far-right authoritarian movements and the organizational causes of technology disasters within a broader theoretical framework. He argues that analytical approaches can be enriched through greater engagement with other areas of contemporary sociology, ultimately emphasizing that analytical sociology is a powerful tool when it acknowledges and moves beyond its preconceived limitations.
Rethinking Analytical Sociology is an essential tool for academics and students in sociology, political science, public health, public policy, and other social sciences. Its insights will also greatly benefit researchers seeking to understand new developments in the field.
Critical Acclaim
‘Rethinking Analytical Sociology is a masterful critique of the contributions and limits of methodological individualism, mechanism-based explanations, and rational choice theory. Daniel Little makes a convincing case for pluralism in the social sciences, to include not only analytical sociology but also new institutionalism, contentious politics, meso-level explanations, a variety of human motivations, and a wide range of methods. The result is a vision of social science better equipped to address the crisis of democracy, inequality, climate change, populism, migration and technological, economic, and cultural change.’
– Andrew Bennett, Georgetown University, USA
‘Daniel Little’s book provides an accurate and up-to-date interpretation of the foundational assumptions of analytical sociology, along with a critical assessment of them. Little demonstrates how relaxing some of these assumptions and engaging more actively with other approaches to explanatory sociology could broaden the scope of analytical sociology. Little has produced an insightful, wide-ranging book that is highly recommended for anyone interested in analytical sociology.’
– Tuukka Kaidesoja, University of Eastern Finland, Finland
– Andrew Bennett, Georgetown University, USA
‘Daniel Little’s book provides an accurate and up-to-date interpretation of the foundational assumptions of analytical sociology, along with a critical assessment of them. Little demonstrates how relaxing some of these assumptions and engaging more actively with other approaches to explanatory sociology could broaden the scope of analytical sociology. Little has produced an insightful, wide-ranging book that is highly recommended for anyone interested in analytical sociology.’
– Tuukka Kaidesoja, University of Eastern Finland, Finland
Contents
Contents
Introduction to Rethinking Analytical Sociology
1 The analytical sociology manifesto
2 Substantive empirical successes
3 Limitations of the generativist paradigm
4 A broadened conception of the actor
5 Dynamic actors and structures
6 Social mechanisms
7 Rejecting ABM fundamentalism
8 Against primacy
9 New topics
References
Introduction to Rethinking Analytical Sociology
1 The analytical sociology manifesto
2 Substantive empirical successes
3 Limitations of the generativist paradigm
4 A broadened conception of the actor
5 Dynamic actors and structures
6 Social mechanisms
7 Rejecting ABM fundamentalism
8 Against primacy
9 New topics
References
