Appraising the current status of the field of structural analysis, 15 papers are presented by Chew (Humboldt State U.) and Knottnerus (Oklahoma State U.) that they argue represent significant progress in the theoretical research in their respective fields. Three major areas are considered, including the study of culture and agency, the relationship of socioeconomic transformation and change in political orders to world history, and synthetic areas of social inquiry. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
This book offers the newest research developments and theory in the re-emerging field of structural analysis. The first section provides an overview and appraisal of the history and future of structural analysis. Subsequent sections focus on culture, historical processes, and macro-micro level interactions. The book's synthetic essays take a variety of forms dealing with structural levels of analysis, agency and structure, multidimensional views of social structure, and theory integration.
Chapter 1 Preface Part 2 Part I. Structural Analysis: Past, Present, and
Future
Chapter 3 History of Social Structural Analysis
Chapter 4 Social
Structure: The Future of a Concept Part 5 Part II. Culture and Social
Structure
Chapter 6 How Are Structures Meaningful? Cultural Sociology and
Theories of Structure
Chapter 7 Agency, Structure and Deritualization: A
Comparative Investigation of Extreme Disruptions of Social Order
Chapter 8
Global Power, Hegemonic Decline, and Cultural Narratives
Chapter 9 Situating
Hybridity: The Positional Logics of a Discourse Part 10 Part III. History and
Social Structure
Chapter 11 A Structural Theory of the Five Thousand Year
World System
Chapter 12 Evolutionary Pulsations in the World System
Chapter
13 Paradigms Bridged: Institutional Materialism and World-Systemic Evolution
Chapter 14 Ecology in Command
Chapter 15 Applications of Elementary Theory to
Structures of Antiquity Part 16 Part IV. Micro and Macro Structures:
Interactions and Organizations
Chapter 17 Gender, Institutions and
Difference: The Continuing Importance of Social Structure in Understanding
Gender Inequality in Organizations
Chapter 18 Social Structure and Social
Exchange
Chapter 19 Social Organizations across Space and Time: The Policy
Process, Mesodomain Analysis, and Breadth of Perspective
Chapter 20 Acts,
Persons, Positions, and Institutions: Legitimating Multiple Objects and
Compliance with Authority
Chapter 21 Index
Sing C. Chew is professor and chairperson at Humboldt State University in Arcata, California. His most recent book is World Ecological Degradation: Accumulation, Urbanization, and Deforestation 3000 B.C.-A.D. 2000. J. David Knottnerus is professor of sociology at Oklahoma State University. His research interests focus on social psychology, social theory, social inequality, and the role ritualization plays in social interaction and structural processes.
