Capitalism and Classical Social Theory

In this third edition of Capitalism and Classical Social Theory, John Bratton and David Denham continue to highlight the relevance of classical social theory in today’s world. Discussing the celebrated triumvirate – Karl Marx, Emile Durkheim, and Max Weber – and extending the conversation to include early women theorists such as Mary Wollstonecraft and Charlotte Perkins Gilman and the writings of W.E.B. Du Bois and G.H. Mead, the book details the classical thinkers crucial to understanding the complexities of contemporary issues.

Connecting current headlines in the political mainstream to concepts like alienation, anomie, class, gender, race, and the environmental crisis, Capitalism and Classical Social Theory sheds light on how classical sociological theories may be applied and understood within a modern context.

The revised and expanded third edition features topical discussion of socioeconomic shifts in the post-Trump and post-Brexit world, and uses original excerpts and additional readings to further contextualize the significance of classical theory for today.