Social Structure

Book Details

• Author: José López, John Scott

• Publisher: Rawat Publications

• Language: English

• Edition: 2019

• ISBN: 9788131610534

• Pages: 139

• Cover: Hardcover

• Sale Territory: India

About the Book

What does 'social structure' mean? How are societies 'organized' or 'structured'? How can these structural ideas be applied in sociological analysis? These questions lie at the heart of this concise yet profound exploration of the concept of social structure, which has often been debated but rarely clarified.

In this insightful text, José López and John Scott seek to clear the confusion around the definition of social structure by analyzing the conceptual frameworks in which varying ideas of social structure are embedded. They argue that different conceptions of social structure capture distinct, but significant, aspects of the reality of social organization.

The book organizes its discussion around three main concepts: 'institutional structure,' 'relational structure,' and 'embodied structure.' López and Scott suggest that combining these conceptions offers a more comprehensive and powerful understanding of social structure. By incorporating the ideas of key sociological thinkers—from Marx and Durkheim, to Parsons and Simmel, and extending to Giddens, Foucault, and Bourdieu—the authors provide an enriched view of social structure.

This book is essential reading for students studying sociology, social anthropology, and the history and philosophy of social thought. It is also an invaluable reference for researchers delving into social structure and related topics.