Sociology and Social Theory
Sociology is a growth area for us and our books in sociology and social theory include exciting work from new authors and well-known academics, as well as undergraduate and postgraduate textbooks.
Our wide range of sociology and social theory books include high quality research and range from textbooks through to specialised monographs. Many also ‘make a difference’ in a tangible way, whether it be informing a key policy or practice debate, or improving the education of students.
Applying Complexity Theory
Whole Systems Approaches to Criminal Justice and Social Work
This is the first book to explore the application of complexity theory to difficult practice issues in criminal justice and social work and brings together experts in this emerging field to address complexity theory from a range of perspectives, providing a detailed but accessible discussion of the key issues to whole systems approaches.
Austerity Bites
A Journey to the Sharp End of Cuts in the UK
This timely book by award-winning journalist Mary O’Hara chronicles the true impact of austerity on people at the sharp end of the cuts, based on her 12-month journey around the country in 2012 and 2013 and fully updated for the paperback edition
The Street Casino
Survival in Violent Street Gangs
Simon Harding proposes an unique theoretical perspective on survival in violent street gangs which offers new evidence on gang behaviour, dynamics, affiliation and risks in inner city areas.
Father and Daughter
Patriarchy, Gender and Social Science
Father and daughter provides an unique ‘insider perspective’ on two key figures in twentieth-century British social science, combining biography of Richard Titmuss and autobiography by his daughter Ann Oakley.
China and Post-Socialist Development
In China and Post-Socialist Development the emergence of China as an economic superpower is examined and framed within the context of the East Asian developmental miracle, arguing that China’s approach – broadly in opposition to the neo-liberal doctrine – has brought impressive results.
Why We Can't Afford the Rich
Why we can’t afford the rich exposes the unjust and dysfunctional mechanisms that allow the top 1% to siphon off wealth produced by others. With an updated Afterword, Andrew Sayer shows how the rich worldwide have increased their ability to hide their wealth, create indebtedness and expand their political influence.
Inclusive Equality
A Vision for Social Justice
In this ambitious, wide-ranging book, the author asks what it takes to create inclusive, cohesive societies, and formulates a vision for social justice as 'inclusive equality'.
The Emotional Politics of Social Work and Child Protection
This book introduces the concept of emotional politics. It shows how collective emotions, such as anger, shame, fear and disgust, are generated and reflected by official documents, politicians and the media.
Getting By
Estates, Class and Culture in Austerity Britain
Lisa Mckenzie lived on the notorious St Ann’s estate in Nottingham for more than 20 years. Her ‘insider’ status enables us to hear the stories of its residents, often wary of outsiders, to give a unique account of life in poor communities in contemporary Britain.
Blamestorming, Blamemongers and Scapegoats
Allocating Blame in the Criminal Justice Process
This is the first detailed criminological account of the role of blame in which the authors present a novel study of the legal process of blame attribution, set in the context of criminalisation as a social and political process. It will also be of wider interest to anyone wishing to discover the role of blame in modern society.
Harmful Societies
Understanding Social Harm
This book is the first to theorise and define the social harm concept beyond criminology and seeks to address these omissions and in doing so provide a platform for future debates, in this series and beyond.