1. Handbook of Political Theory by Gerald F. Gaus and Chandran Kukathas

This major new Handbook provides a definitive state-of-the-art review to political theory, past and
present. It offers a complete guide to all the main areas and fields of political and philosophical inquiry
today by the world's leading theorists.

The Handbook is divided into five parts which together serve to illustrate:

* the diversity of political theorizing
* the substantive theories that provide an over-aching analysis of the nature/or justification of the state
and political life
* the political theories that have been either formulated or resurgent in recent years
* the current state of the central debates within contemporary political theory
* the history of western political thought and its interpretations
* traditions in political thought outside a western perspective.

The Handbook of Political Theory marks a benchmark publication at the cutting edge of its field. It
is essential reading for all students and academics of political theory and political philosophy around the
world.


2. Handbook of Social Theory by George Ritzer and Barry Smart

This book is an indispensable resource for anyone interested in the roots, current debates and future
development of social theory. It draws together a team of outstanding international scholars, and
presents an authoritative and panoramic critical survey of the field.

The volume is divided into three parts. The first part examines the classical tradition. Included here are
critical discussions of Comte, Spencer, Marx, Durkheim, Weber, Simmel, Mead, Freud, Mannheim and
classical feminist thought. This part conveys the classical tradition as a living resource in social theory,
it demonstrates not only the critical significance of classical writings, but their continuing relevance.

The second part moves on to examine the terrain of contemporary social theory. The contributions
discuss the significance and strengths and weaknesses of structural functionalism, recent Marxian
theory, critical theory, symbolic interactionism, phenomenology, ethnomethodology, exchange theory,
rational choice, contemporary feminism, multiculturalism, postmodernism, the thought of Foucault
and Habermas, and figurational sociology. The reader gains a comprehensive and informed picture
of the key issues and central figures of the day.

The final part ranges over the key debates in current social theory. Questions relating to positivism,
metatheorizing, cultural studies, consumption, sexualities, the body, globalism, nationalism, socialism,
knowledge societies, ethics and morality, as well as postsocial relations are fully discussed. The
dilemmas and promise of contemporary social theory are revealed with pinpoint accuracy.

This is a benchmark volume for understanding the development, achievement and prospects for social
theory. It will be required reading for scholars and students in sociology, social philosophy and cultural
studies.

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