Contested Knowledge: Social Theory Today

Each edition of Contested Knowledge has garnered critical acclaim for its insightful presentation of up–to–date perspectives on social theory by one of the most influential thinkers of the modern era. In the new 5th Edition Contested Knowledge, renowned social theorist Steven Seidman proclaims the demise of the era of the great “universalist theorists” represented by figures such as Habermas, Foucault, Baudrillard, and Bourdieu. In its place, Seidman reveals the dawn of a modern–day shift to networks of clustered debates – relatively “autonomous” and interdisciplinary social theorizing on issues such as citizenship, performativity, nationalism, globalization, cosmopolitanism, and queer life. To gain a better appreciation of this new social thinking and theorizing, Seidman hones his focus on discussions of three distinct clustered debates now swirling in social theory – intimacy, postcolonial nationalism, and the concept of “the other.” Scholarly and rigorous, yet engagingly written for widespread accessibility, the 5th Edition of Contested Knowledge offers thought–provoking insights into exciting new frontiers of sociological theorizing precipitated by the emergence of a globalized world.