Handbook of Public Sociology

Edited by Vincent Jeffries - Contributions by Barbara Adam; Wendell Bell; Michael Burawoy; Stephen Cornell; Michael DeCesare; Sean Elias; Lee McPhail; Frank Furedi; Herbert J. Gans; Norval D. Glenn; John Hagan; Ruth Horowitz; Rhoda E. Howard-Hassmann; Lina Hu; Robert Kleidman; Elizabeth Dermody Leonard; Damon Mayrl; Bill McCarthy; Raymond A. Morrow; Jennifer Mueller; Lawrence T. Nichols; Samuel P. Oliner; Pamela E. Oliver; Caroline Hodges Persell; Saskia Sassen; Edward A. Tiryakian and Laurel Westbrook

Public sociology—an approach to sociology that aims to communicate with and actively engage wider audiences—has been one of the most widely discussed topics in the discipline in recent years. The Handbook of Public Sociology presents a comprehensive look at every facet of public sociology in theory and practice. It pays particular attention to how public sociology can complement more traditional types of sociological practice to advance both the analytical power of the discipline and its ability to benefit society. The volume features contributions from a stellar list of authors, including several past presidents of the American Sociological Association such as Michael Burawoy, a leading proponent of public sociology.

The first two sections of the Handbook of Public Sociology look at public sociology in relation to the other three types of practice—professional, policy, and critical—with an emphasis on integrating the four types into a holistic model of theory and practice. Subsequent sections focus on issues like teaching public sociology at various levels, case studies in the application of public sociology, and the role of public sociology in special fields in the discipline. The concluding chapter by Michael Burawoy, a past president of the American Sociological Association and a leading proponent of public sociology, addresses current debates surrounding public sociology and presents a constructive vision for the future that embraces and improves upon all four types of sociology.

The Handbook of Public Sociology with its examination not only of public sociology but also of how it can enhance and complement other types of practice, transcends differences in the field and will appeal to a wide range of academics, students, and practitioners.

Rowman & Littlefield Publishers

Pages: 464 • Trim: 6¾ x 9¾

978-0-7425-6646-0 • Hardback • June 2009 • $167.00 • (£129.00)

978-0-7425-6647-7 • Paperback • August 2011 • $76.00 • (£58.00)

978-0-7425-6648-4 • eBook • July 2009 • $72.00 • (£55.00)

Subjects: Social Science / Research, Social Science / Essays, Social Science / Reference

Handbook of Public Sociology

Hardback

Paperback

eBook

Summary

Public sociology—an approach to sociology that aims to communicate with and actively engage wider audiences—has been one of the most widely discussed topics in the discipline in recent years. The Handbook of Public Sociology presents a comprehensive look at every facet of public sociology in theory and practice. It pays particular attention to how public sociology can complement more traditional types of sociological practice to advance both the analytical power of the discipline and its ability to benefit society. The volume features contributions from a stellar list of authors, including several past presidents of the American Sociological Association such as Michael Burawoy, a leading proponent of public sociology.

The first two sections of the Handbook of Public Sociology look at public sociology in relation to the other three types of practice—professional, policy, and critical—with an emphasis on integrating the four types into a holistic model of theory and practice. Subsequent sections focus on issues like teaching public sociology at various levels, case studies in the application of public sociology, and the role of public sociology in special fields in the discipline. The concluding chapter by Michael Burawoy, a past president of the American Sociological Association and a leading proponent of public sociology, addresses current debates surrounding public sociology and presents a constructive vision for the future that embraces and improves upon all four types of sociology.

The Handbook of Public Sociology with its examination not only of public sociology but also of how it can enhance and complement other types of practice, transcends differences in the field and will appeal to a wide range of academics, students, and practitioners.

Details

Rowman & Littlefield Publishers

Pages: 464 • Trim: 6¾ x 9¾

978-0-7425-6646-0 • Hardback • June 2009 • $167.00 • (£129.00)

978-0-7425-6647-7 • Paperback • August 2011 • $76.00 • (£58.00)

978-0-7425-6648-4 • eBook • July 2009 • $72.00 • (£55.00)

Subjects: Social Science / Research, Social Science / Essays, Social Science / Reference

Author

Vincent Jeffries is professor of sociology at California State University, Northridge.

Table of Contents

1 Redefining the Nature and Future of Sociology:
Toward a Holistic Sociology
Vincent Jeffries

Part I: Exploring and Elaborating the Holistic Model

2 Burawoy's Holistic Sociology and Sorokin's "Integralism":
A Conversation of Ideas
Lawrence T. Nichols

3 Rethinking Burawoy's Public Sociology:
A Post-Empiricist Reconstruction
Raymond A. Morrow

4 Social Justice and Critical Public Sociology
Joe Feagin, Sean Elias, and Jennifer Mueller

5 Public Sociology and the Future: The Possible, the Probable,
and the Preferable
Wendell Bell

6 The Scientific System of Public Sociology: The Exemplar of
Pitirim A. Sorokin's Social Thought
Vincent Jeffries

Part II: Establishing and Perfecting the Model

7 A Sociology for Public Sociology: Some Needed Disciplinary
Changes for Creating Public Sociology
Herbert J. Gans

8 Some Suggested Standards for Distinguishing Between
Good and Bad Public Sociology
Norval D. Gleen

9 On Writing Public Sociology: Accountability through
Accessibility, Dialogue, and Relevance
Damon Mayrl and Laurel Westbrook

10 Recapturing the Sociological Imagination: The Challenge for
Public Sociology
Frank Furedi

Part III: Teaching and Public Sociology

11 Presenting Sociology's Four 'Faces': Problems and Prospects
for the High School Course
Michael DeCesare

12 Teaching and Public Sociology
Caroline Hodges Persell

Part IV: The Practice of Organic Public Sociology: Case Studies

13 From Data to Drama: Returning Research to
Convicted Survivors
Elizabeth Dermody Leonard

14 Integrating the Four Sociologies: The "Baigou Project"
in China
Lina Hu

15 Becoming Public Sociology: Indigenous Nations, Dialogue,
and Change
Stephen Cornell

16 Talking about Racial Disparities in Imprisonment:
A Reflection on Experiences in Wisconsin
Pamela E. Oliver

17 Public Membership on Medical Licensing Boards:
An Integrated Public and Professional Project
Ruth Horowitz

18 Counting the Deaths in Darfur: Pitfalls on the Pathway to
a Public Sociology
Bill McCarthy and John Hagan

Part V: Special Fields and Public Sociology

19 Engaged Social Movement Scholarship
Robert Kleidman

20 Public Sociology and Universal Human Rights
Rhoda E. Howard-Hassmann

21 Altruism, Apology, Forgiveness, and Reconciliation as
Public Sociology
Samuel P. Oliner

22 A Public Sociology for a Global Age: Recovering the Political
Saskia Sassen

23 Global Altruism: Some Considerations
Edward A. Tiryakian

24 Futures in the Making: Sociological Practice and Challenge
Barbara Adam

Part VI: Future Directions

25 The Public Sociology Wars
Michael Burawoy

Index

About the Contributors

Reviews

This is a useful volume. . . . Recommended.
— Choice Reviews, May 2010

The publication of The Handbook of Public Sociology is timely and important. While it reveals the tensions and disputes about public sociology within the discipline of sociology, it also makes clear its potential to educate the public on many crucial social problems and issues confronting our society. This volume is a must-read for those who believe that sociology's findings, theories and ideas should be more widely disseminated.
— William Julius Wilson, Lewis P. and Linda L. Geyser University Professor, Harvard University

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