Introduction to Sociology

This textbook explores the emergence of sociology as a distinct social science. Focusing on the evolution of social theories, movements and ideas through history, it analyses the dynamic relationship between the individual and the larger social forces around them.The volume examines the definitive aspects of societies, communities and social groups and their intersections with culture, political and economic movements, and religious institutions. It establishes the connections between sociology and disciplines such as political science, economics, psychology, anthropology, and philosophy to explore how these inform our understanding of social behaviour. The chapters provide rich descriptions and categorisations of quantitative and qualitative methods of research and interpretation of social life and theory. Drawing from the works of classical social theorists such as August Comte, Herbert Spencer, Karl Marx, Emile Durkheim and Max Weber, it traces the development of sociological theories and perspectives and its relevance in the history of ideas. Lucid and comprehensive, this textbook will be useful for undergraduate and post graduate students of sociology, development studies, history of ideas, sociological thought, social theory, research methods, political science and anthropology.