Change and Disruption: Sociology of the Future draws on classical and modern sociological theory to identify recent and emerging trends in the global system. These dynamics are explored through the animating question: will the positive potential of the modern world be realized or will the human condition spiral downward?
Introduction PART 1: The world as it was and is 1 World disrupted: it has happened before 2 Moving pieces: the past of our global matters of concern 3 From difference to inequalities and inequities 4 Here and now: a quantitative snapshot of the present PART 2: How did we get here? Theories of the modern world Introduction 5 Ideology and power: the reign of instrumental reason 6 Social integration: cohesion, regulation, and trust 7 Theories of capitalism Conclusion PART 3: Matters of concern and emerging trends: the world as it will be or might be Introduction 8 The state as the lever of power 9 Humans and nature: environment, climate change, pandemics, and disasters 10 Production, work, and technology 11 People and places: migration, immigration, and urbanization 12 Transformations of the self
Roberta Garner is Emeritus Professor of Sociology at DePaul University, USA. Her research explores sociological theory, stats and methods, urban sociology, criminology, and social movements and she has extensive experience of teaching theory, methods, and political sociology. She is the author of The Joy of Stats (Third Edition, 2022) and co-author of Changing Theories: New Directions in Social Theory (2009), Doing Qualitative Research: Designs, Methods, and Techniques