Books On Social Structure

Social Structure & Mobility in Economic Development June 1, 2005
by Neil J. Smelser (Editor), Seymour Martin Lipset (Editor)

The Social Structures Of The Economy (September 30, 2005)
by Pierre Bourdieu
Much orthodox economic theory is based on assumptions which are treated as self-evident: supply and demand are regarded as independent entities, the individual is assumed to be a rational agent who knows his interests and how to make decisions corresponding to them, and so on. But one has only to examine an economic transaction closely, as Pierre Bourdieu does here for the buying and selling of houses, to see that these abstract assumptions cannot explain what happens in reality. As Bourdieu shows, the market is constructed by the state, which can decide, for example, whether to promote private housing or collective provision. And the individuals involved in the transaction are immersed in symbolic constructions which constitute, in a strong sense, the value of houses, neighbourhoods and towns.
The abstract and illusory nature of the assumptions of orthodox economic theory has been criticised by some economists, but Bourdieu argues that we must go further. Supply, demand, the market and even the buyer and seller are products of a process of social construction, and so-called ‘economic' processes can be adequately described only by calling on sociological methods. Instead of seeing the two disciplines in antagonistic terms, it is time to recognize that sociology and economics are in fact part of a single discipline, the object of which is the analysis of social facts, of which economic transactions are in the end merely one aspect.
This brilliant study by the most original sociologist of post-war France will be essential reading for students and scholars of sociology, economics, anthropology and related disciplines

Transition from School to Work: Individual Life Courses Within Social Structures (Issues In Education) (April 1, 2005) Chew Siew Ghee

Marginality, Power and Social Structure : Issues in Race, Class, and Gender Analysis (Research in Race and Ethnic Relations) (May 16, 2005) by Rutledge Dennis
The articles in this book are intended to be a much-needed corrective to the literature on marginality. In the recent past, and at present, the concept of marginality has been used with little specificity, and when used with specificity, the delineation of the complex dimensions of the term has been less than satisfactory. To illustrate the many ways in which marginality exists and operates in many societies Rutledge Dennis has assembled a rich array of articles designed to highlight the history and evolution of the concept of marginality along with the theorists, issues and situations which prompted the use of the term, and the issues for which the term is applicable today. The very title of the volume comes into play here because, though many of the early marginality theorists took the term into the realm of psychology, the contributors to this volume who discussed the theory highlighted the social structural foundation of marginality.
Dennis sought a marriage of theory and research while assembling the articles for this volume. For this reason he actively sought papers which used divergent research strategies to uncover the existence of marginality in its various forms and contexts. Thus, some of the papers utilize ethnographic and life history approaches, whereas others use statistical analysis and historical data analysis. In addition to theoretical and methodological concerns a major theme for this volume is the combination of both theory and method towards an investigation of issues and problems emanate from the social structure, and are closely linked to power and domination.

Change And Stability: Cross-national Analysis Of Social Structure And Personality (November 1, 2005)
by Melvin L. Kohn
In societies experiencing social or political upheaval, do individuals’ personalities change or remain much the same?
This book addresses this and related questions through an impressively rigorous cross-national study of personality in stable societies (the United States and Japan) compared to former socialist societies during and after transition (Poland and Ukraine).
Kohn tests his incisive interpretation of the relationships between position in the larger social structures of class and stratification and job conditions and personality. Initially developed and tested in a longitudinal study of men employed in civilian occupations in the United States, the interpretation is systematically tested and enlarged in studies in Japan (to see whether it applies to a non-Western industrialized society) and in Poland when it was socialist (to see whether it applies to the social and economic system of Soviet-dominated Eastern Europe). Then, with the demise of the Soviet Union, the comparisons are extended to both men and women, whether or not employed, in the urban areas of Poland and Ukraine during their transition to nascent capitalism (to see whether the interpretation applies to the entire urban populations of these countries, even under conditions of radical social change). Despite personality being highly unstable during the process of radical social change in Ukraine from 1992 to 1996, the relationships of social structure and personality remain remarkably stable and consistent with those of countries studied during times of much greater social stability.
Melvin Kohn, professor of sociology at Johns Hopkins University, is former president of the American Sociological Association and author of many acclaimed research books and articles.

The Social Structure of Postindustrial Societies : From Classes and Strata to Social Milieus and Lifestyles (October 30, 2004) by Stefan Hradil

Human Behavior and the Larger Social Environment : A New Synthesis (October 19, 2004)
Miriam McNown Johnson, Rita Rhodes
Human Behavior and the Larger Social Environment promotes critical thinking through extensive review and analysis of macro-level systems and structures, highlighting both the positive and negative impacts they have on individuals and families.
Highlights of the First Edition:
Presents multiple perspectives in each chapter to explain each macro topic, helping students to become more adept at applying different perspectives and using critical thinking skills.
Avoids overwhelming students by organizing each chapter the same way, helping students mentally organize material so they can readily apply the knowledge to other social work courses.
Supports the “person-in-environment” orientation by moving away from an overemphasis on individual development, toward an examination of contextual issues that more fully demonstrate the challenges routinely encountered by social workers.
What reviewers are saying about Human Behavior and the Larger Social Environment:
“I cannot remember the last time that I read a textbook that was as fascinating and held my attention throughout... I predict that social work students will love this book and teachers will find students to be enthusiastic and engaged in the topic.”
—Deborah Valentine, Ph.D., Colorado State University
“The perspectives presented such as social constructionist, ecosystems, diversity, etc. will greatly facilitate students' learning and bridge the gap between theory, practice, and multiple dimensions of the macro environment. I think that students will find this text interesting and understandable and that it will help students to critically examine the multiple dimensions of human behavior.”
—Marian S. Harris, Ph.D., University of Washington, Tacoma

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Social Structure and Party Choice in Western Europe : A Comparative Longitudinal Study (January 15, 2005)
by Oddbjorn Knutsen
This study is a comparative analysis of the relationship between social structure and party choice in eight West European countries. Oddbjbliogørn Knutsen analyzes the comparative strength of social structural variables, and how these have changed from the early 1970s to the late 1990s. Other factors that are considered include for which parties the structural variables have the largest impact within the various party systems and across national contexts, and for which parties are the most significant changes in support from various social groups found.

Drug And Alcohol Consumption As Functions Of Social Structures: A Cross-cultural Sociology (Mellen Studies in Sociology) (May 30, 2005)
by James E. Hawdon, James Hawdon

Inequality: Structures, Dynamics and Mechanisms : Essays in Honor of Aage B. Sorensen (Research in Social Stratification and Mobility) (December 30, 2004)
by Arne L. Kalleberg, Stephen L. Morgan, John Myles, Rachel A. Rosenfeld
Aage Sorensen was an influential intellectual presence who was one of the world's leading authorities on social stratification and the sociology of education. His research sought to understand the structures, dynamics and mechanisms that underlie inequalities in industrial societies by focusing on how individuals' attainments are shaped by characteristics of a society's or organization's opportunity structure, on the one hand, and individuals' education, experience and other human capital resources, on the other. He emphasized inequalities associated with education and schooling, class, and stratification outcomes such as income and occupational status. Within these general foci, he tackled the study of phenomena as diverse as rates of learning in elementary school reading groups and promotion patterns in large industrial corporations.
The chapters of this volume illustrate some of the major themes that characterized Aage's research; these topics are also likely to constitute important concerns for future efforts to understand structured social inequality in society. These themes include: the development of explicit dynamic models to account for observed patterns of education, career, and labor market outcomes; aspects of educational inequality such as school effects and learning opportunities; issues related to intragenerational mobility and careers; and the role of rents in generating structural inequality.