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As the discipline of the social sciences finds itself at a crossroads hedged in by the remnants of empire, with the 'decolonisation' of its conceptual and methodological foundations being the only productive path forward, the question is no longer whether to take this route, but how. In their recent book, Colonialism and Modern Social Theory, Gurminder K Bhambra and John Holmwood offer a stimulating and resourceful guide to this objective, setting forth a provocative approach in disrupting and radically reinterpreting dominant sociological understandings of modern world society. The following book review essay discusses the authors' interventions by highlighting their interrogations of the canonical figures who would shape the problematic trajectory of the discipline for generations. I assess the book's core argument of advocating for a need to recentre imperial encounters and relations at an explanatory level in the shaping of capitalist modernity, concluding with considerations for a reflexive and epistemic reconstruction of the sociological canon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Philosophy and sociology appear to belong to separate spheres of thought, which might explain why they exist as separate academic disciplines. But in what way, if any, are philosophy and sociology different from, or related to, each other? In these series of lectures delivered at Frankfurt University in 1960, Adorno examines the relationship between philosophy and sociology and concludes that the subjects do not belong to separate spheres of thought. But Adorno has a bigger aim in mind. His attempt to reconcile philosophy and sociology takes the form of a wholesale attack on positivistic sociology, followed by a critique of philosophical idealism. There is, however, a debate as to whether the origins of Adorno's critical sociology lie in Marx's critique of political economy or philosophical idealism. These lectures throw further light on this question as they show the development of Adorno's social philosophy and the critical theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peter Baehr's new book examines unmasking in the history of social theory, politics and contemporary media. In this review, I focus on the assessment of styles of theorizing in social theory and sociology in particular. Baehr shows that through its inheritance of an Enlightenment commitment to a critique of power and domination, mainstream sociology (including the discipline's conservative critics) have absorbed an "unmasking" model of critique where instead of "scientific refutation" or "principled disagreement" what is practiced is the removal of a "disguise". I consider the book's rich history of masking and unmasking in social thought, as well as the claim that "dramaturgical" and Anglophone sociologies are more favorably disposed towards the "masking" trope; although, I also observe the book's historical depth is not matched by contemporary breadth (for e.g. it doesn't consider the migration of social theory into new domains). I conclude by asking whether reflection on styles of thought in social theory can be separated from a sociology of sociology; and also ask whether the masking and unmasking dialectic is yet another chapter in the long history of what the Greeks called theoria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

These techniques define the approach of certain key figures and perspectives, including Karl Marx, Sigmund Freud, the Frankfurt School, Pierre Bourdieu, much of postcolonial theory and others, who all traffic in what Baehr calls the I unmasking i style. Baehr concludes chapter 1 of the book with the caveat that unmasking cannot be captured within a "simple definition". Yet Nietzsche is not a straightforward unmasker, claims Baehr; on the contrary, Nietzsche believes we need masks to defend ourselves, emotional and intellectual depth being preserved through masks. The self-contradictoriness of Smith's enterprise, Baehr argues, enmeshes his conclusions in confusion, even though Baehr clearly sympathizes with Smith's overall diagnosis. [Extracted from the article]

Given that at around the time of Nietzsche's writing, Durkheim was busy trying to get sociology up and running, it is hard to imagine why either then, or indeed ever since, those concerned with conserving the status and integrity of the discipline would have actively sought to welcome Nietzsche into the fold. As to why the author elected to focus on these thinkers in particular and not any others, such as Simmel, say, whose I Schopenhauer und Nietzsche: Ein Vortragszyklus i (1907) explicitly addresses Nietzsche, is never explicitly addressed. The first comprises "a comparative analysis of Nietzsche and Marx" which, the author notes, 'any introductory book on Nietzsche for sociological thinking today would be incomplete without' (p. 70). In summary, this book self-identifies as an "introductory book" (p. 70) to Nietzsche, which it does amid recurrent charges that sociology has failed to acknowledge its debt to Nietzsche. [Extracted from the article]

This review discusses Zygmunt Bauman's Retrotopia, published shortly after the renowned sociologist's death, in the light of his engagement with the thought of Pope Francis during the last years of his life. It traces some of the main themes of this engagement, and addresses its role and importance in the context of the book as well as in the aims of Bauman's sociology as a whole. As the insecurities and anxieties of liquid modernity in our increasingly violent world lead many to give up on the effort of building a better future and turn towards the 'retrotopia' of an ideal past, a crucial sign of hope is found in the words of Pope Francis. In his efforts as a sociologist, Zygmunt Bauman seeks to redirect our gaze to the future and to engage in dialogue, understood as the art of living together. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Selwyn, Neil What is digital sociology? For example, Selwyn discusses innovative and interdisciplinary Big Data methodologies while simultaneously expressing skepticism about claims that Big Data will usher in a return to Grand Theorizing and data fundamentalism. What sets this book apart from the others in the canon is the rich work Selwyn does of establishing sociology's pre-digital relationship with technology. [Extracted from the article]

The article reviews the book " The Politics of Crowds: An Alternative History of Sociology," by Christian Borch.

The notion of debt discussed here does not only refer to monetary debt but also to non-monetary forms of historical, societal, and environmental debts that have arisen with the historical progression of financial capitalism. However, when we consider other chapters that focus on unpayable debts, we see that debt provides a significant impetus to economic growth, and ultimately to contemporary capitalism, thus making debt an indispensable part of modern understanding of financial capitalism. While we are usually inclined to think monetary debt when we see the word "debt", there is of course some debts that are connected to finance but are not necessarily financial in their nature. [Extracted from the article]

The article reviews the book "Die Gesellschaft der Dinge, Menschen, Götter" by Wolfgang Eßbach.

The article reviews the book "Usable Theory: Analytic Tools for Social and Political Research," by Dietrich Rueschemeyer.

The article reviews the book "A Sociology of Constitutions: Constitutions and State Legitimacy in Historical-Sociological Perspective," by Chris Thornhill.

The article reviews the book "Exploring the Sociology of Europe. An Analysis of the European Social Complex," by Roche Maurice.

The article reviews the book "The Oxford Handbook of Analytical Sociology," edited by Peter Hedström and Peter Bearman.

The article reviews the book "Simmel and the Social," by Olli Pyyhtinen.

The article reviews the book "De la critique. Précis de sociologie de l'émancipation," by Luc Boltanski.

The article reviews the book "Sociologie del tempo," by Carmen Leccardi.

The article reviews the book "The Elephant in the Room," by Eviatar Zerubavel.

By the June lectures, Bourdieu begins to elaborate how classification struggles are about symbolic power - principles of judgement and perception - because what is so often at stake in life is the existence of social groups. Readers knowing Bourdieu's major works, but perhaps not the historical, social, and political context of it, will enjoy the addition of an essay by Patrick Champagne and Julien Duval (p. 134). If, as Champagne and Duval cautiously claim, Bourdieu's synthetic lectures on general sociology can be 'considered somewhat equivalent to Max Weber's I Economy and Society i ' (pp. 137-138), then the sociological field has much to look forward to in future publications. [Extracted from the article]

In I The Mood of the World i , sociologist Heinz Bude argues that moods should not be seen as merely personal feelings. Bude's book commences with a broad analysis on the mood of the current situation and the function of collective moods. The hierarchy of power in mood is also revealed in Bude's observation of different generational mood-tendencies. [Extracted from the article]

The article reviews the book "Seen and Unseen: Visual Culture, Sociology and Theology," by Kieran Flanagan.

The article reviews the book "Incoherent Empire," by Michael Mann.

Reviews the book "The Dialogical Turn: New Roles for Sociology in the Postdisciplinary Age," edited by Charles Camic and Hans Joas.

Reviews the book "Sacred Revolutions: Durkheim and the Collège de Sociologie," by Michèle H. Richman.

Reviews the book "The Social Thought of Zygmunt Bauman," by Keith Tester.

Reviews the book "Founders, Classics, Canons: Modern Disputes Over the Origins and Appraisal of Sociology's Heritage," by Peter Baehr.

Reviews the book "Classical Horizons: The Origins of Sociology in Ancient Greece," by George E. McCarthy.

Reviews the book "A Singular Modernity: Essay on the Ontology of the Present," by Frederic Jameson.

Reviews the non-fiction book 'American Social and Political Thought: A Concise Introduction,' by Andreas Hess.