Influenced by Thomas Kuhn's work on paradigm shifts in the social sciences, this overview of contemporary theory
identifies major themes, charts the impact of social change on theories, acquaints readers with a sample of individual
theorists (the "transitional giants" who shaped contemporary theories), explores the impact of contemporary
theories on various areas of sociology, and traces how the great social theories of the past are being reinterpreted
and incorporated into new theories. The result is an original interpretation of the important role that theory
plays both in the real world and in the shaping of an academic discipline.