From Enlightenment to Risk

SIMON CLARKE is Co-director of the Centre for Psycho-Social Studies and a Reader in the School of Sociology at the University of the West of England, UK. He is author of Social Theory, Psychoanalysis and Racism and is editor of the international journal Psychoanalysis, Culture & Society.

This original new book offers a comprehensive introduction to social theories and how they are applied to contemporary social problems. Exploring all the key ideas and thinkers, in addition to the most recent debates in the field, this book will be an engaging and lucid read for all those seeking to understand contemporary social theory today.This original new book offers a comprehensive introduction to social theories and how they are applied to contemporary social problems. It charts a critical path from Max Weber, the early Frankfurt School, through to the work of Michel Foucault, the concept of Postmodernism and current debates surrounding globalization, risk and network society. Exploring all the key ideas and thinkers, in addition to the most recent debates in the field, this book will be an engaging and lucid read for all those seeking to understand contemporary social theory today.