Understanding Politics and Society

This textbook presents political sociology as a connective social science that studies political phenomena by creating fruitful connections with other perspectives. The relationship between politics and society is more complex than ever due to the emergence of new power structures, forms of conflict organization and management, and social practices of political participation. Several scholars describe this historical phase as the 'de-politicization of representative politics'. The book addresses classical themes of and approaches to political sociology, but also dedicates several chapters to contemporary developments within political sociology, including, for instance, the role of the internet and bottom-up political communication in social movements. In addition, the volume acts as a professional tool for those scholars and researchers that are beginning to study political processes from a sociological perspective.

Author Biography: Fabio de Nardis is Associate Professor of Political Sociology at the University of Salento, Italy, where he is also Research Affiliate of the Centre for Conflict and Participation Studies (CCPS) and Chairman of the BA and MA programme in sociology. He is Editor-in-Chief of the peer-reviewed open access journal Partecipazione e conflitto (Participation and Conflict), published in English. His research focuses on social and political theory, democratisation, contentious politics, social movements, political participation, and populism.

Contents: Chapter 1 Politics and society1.1. Modern politics and the field of political sociology1.2. Political science and political sociology1.3. Political sociology as a connective social science1.4. The research logic in political sociology
Chapter 2 Chasing political sociology2.1. Alexis de Tocqueville [1805-1859]2.2. Karl Marx [1818-1883]2.3. Emile Durkheim [1858-1917]2.4. Max Weber [1864-1920]
Chapter 3 Understanding political sociology3.1. The behavioural revolution3.2. Politics as a system3.3. Political development and modernisation3.4. Politics as action 3.5. Rediscovering institutions
Chapter 4 Dimensions and distribution of power4.1. The ambiguity of power 4.2. The social dimensions of power4.3. Understanding social power4.4. The distribution of power4.5. Measuring power
Chapter 5 Features and developments of the modern state5.1. Origins and features of the modern state5.2. The historical development of the state5.3. Modern state, administration, bureaucracy 5.4. Public policy process and neoliberalism
Chapter 6 International system and globalisation6.1. The international system6.2. Understanding international relations6.3. The global system6.4. Global challenges to international politics
Chapter 7 The paths of political violence7.1. The state and violence7.2. Old and new wars7.3. Social revolutions
Chapter 8 Democracy and political participation8.1. The democratic process8.2. Democracy and political participation 8.3. Democracy and interest groups8.4. Determinants of democracy and non-democratic regimes Chapter 9 The parabola of political parties9.1. Features and functions of political parties9.2. The Historical evolution of political parties9.3. Changes in the mass party9.4. Party developments in changing societies
Chapter 10 Social movements and political change
10.1. Social movements and modernity10.2. Social movements, identities, symbols, and emotions10.3. Social movements, organisations, and networks10.4. Action repertoires, communication, and cycles of protest10.5. Social movements in changing societies
Chapter 11 Ideologies, political cultures and the populist wave11.1. The tricky conceptualisation of political cultures11.2. Political ideologies between persistence and crisis11.3. Political socialisation, generations, and recruitment11.4. Populism and anti-political sentiment
Chapter 12 Communication and political process 12.1. The field of political communication 12.2. Political languages and rituals12.3. Media politics12.4. Political communication, citizens, and new media