Conference Information Features • Znaniecki Conference in Poland • The Essential Readings in Theory • Miniconference in San Francisco • Where Can a Student Find Theory?

THE ASA July 1998 THEORY SECTION NEWSLETTER Perspectives VOLUME 20, NUMBER 3

From the Chair’s Desk Section Officers How Do We Create Theory? CHAIR By Guillermina Jasso Guillermina Jasso s the spring semester draws to a close, and new scholarly energies are every- where visible, I want to briefly take stock of sociological theory and the CHAIR-ELECT Theory Section. It has been a splendid privilege to watch the selflessness Janet Saltzman Chafetz A and devotion with which section members nurture the growth of sociological theory and its chief institutional steward, the Theory Section. I called on many of you to PAST CHAIR help with section matters, and you kindly took on extra burdens, many of them Donald Levine thankless except, sub specie aeternitatis, insofar as they play a part in advancing socio- logical theory. The Theory Prize Committee, the Shils-Coleman Prize Committee, SECRETARY-TREASURER the Nominations Committee, and the Membership Committee have been active; the Peter Kivisto newsletter editor has kept us informed; the session organizers have assembled an impressive array of speakers and topics. And thus, we can look forward to our COUNCIL meeting in August as a time for intellectual consolidation and intellectual progress. Keith Doubt Gary Alan Fine The section program for the August meetings includes one regular open session, one Stephen Kalberg roundtables session, and the three-session miniconference, entitled “The Methods Michele Lamont of Theoretical Sociology.” Because the papers from the miniconference are likely to Emanuel Schegloff become the heart of a book, I will be especially on the lookout for discussion at the miniconference sessions that could form the basis for additional papers or discus- Steven Seidman sion in the volume. SOCIOLOGICAL THEORY See METHODS on Page 2 EDITOR Craig Calhoun Social Theory’s Essential Texts PERSPECTIVES By Alan Sica EDITOR argued in my remarks at last year’s to answer, but it occurred to me that ask- Joseph Hopper miniconference session II that if ing some of the top current theory I one had to throw away all the soci- people, all of whom had been chairs of ology or social theory that one owned ex- the Theory Section at one time or another, Submit news and commentary to: cept for those ten volumes that meant the to name their favorite ten works in soci- Joseph Hopper most, those ten would reflect as much ology and/or social theory might serve University of Chicago the passionate involvement of the author as some “empirically” derived basis that Cobb Box 164 with his or her material as it would el- Schmitt and others could use. He ex- 5845 S. Ellis Avenue egant method or steamingly illuminating plained that as a graduate student he is Chicago, IL 60637 theorizing. Right after, Christopher overwhelmed with material, and is look- Schmitt, an ambitious graduate student Phone: (773) 702-3318 ing for advice on how to spend his lim- from Oregon State, asked me what ten Fax: (773) 834-0493 ited amount of time. Below are six lists titles I would name for him (as he took E-mail: [email protected] out a pad to write on). I was unprepared See TOP TEN on Page 6 Page 2 Perspectives

Where’s a Good Theory Student to Go? department is strongly oriented towards Readers Respond to Doubt theory. We have many theorists among our faculty (and associated faculty), in- cluding Lewis A. Coser (Visiting Profes- Theory at University of Maryland precisely at integrating theory and meth- sor), Peter Berger, Jeff Coulter, James ods. Thus we not only have theorists, Schmidt, Charles Lindholm, George In response to Keith Doubt’s note but also a vibrant program in theory that in the April issue of Perspectives on Psathas, Adam Seligman, Liah Greenfeld, operates in an intellectually supportive and Stephen Kalberg. Theory is viewed “Where’s the Theory?” I have good news: environment. Theory is alive and well as a major focus as central to our graduate and under- Do send us your tired (of mindless graduate curricula, and we cover an un- of graduate education at research), your hungry (for the University of Mary- usually broad range of schools and LETTERS ideas), your students of land, College Park. Keith, approaches. Moreover, our graduate cur- TO THE EDITOR many cultures yearning to riculum emphasizes theory: two courses do send us your students. be thinkers. Faculty members of the are required (classical and contemporary) Richard Brown and our only qualifying examination is in theory program are Richard Harvey Coordinator of the Graduate Program Brown, William Falk, Jerald Hage, theory. Our graduate theory classes regu- in Theory, University of Maryland, larly attract students from throughout the Patricio Korzeniewicz, Barbara Meeker, College Park George Ritzer, and David Segal. Of university. Last but not least, the empha- these, Brown, Hage, and Ritzer devote sis in our graduate program upon quali- their scholarship mainly to original theo- Theory at Boston University tative methods might also be attractive retical work. The others do and teach to burgeoning theorists. We hope soon theory mainly as it relates to organiza- In response to Keith Doubt’s ques- to continue our search, begun last year, tions, social psychology, or political tion about where students seeking good for a further theorist. economy. The program focuses on clas- graduate education in social theory may Stephen Kalberg sical, contemporary, and metatheory, cov- go, one answer is: Boston University. Our Boston University ers a broad range of approaches from logical deductive theory construction to a more discourse oriented or postmodern Theories, Predictions, and Postulates kind of theorizing. Several of our mem- bers are internationally recognized think- METHODS from Page 1 ers in these fields. How do new theories arise? By painstaking crafting of fruitful assumptions reflect- We have about a dozen graduate stu- ing the treasury of ideas. How does a theory grow? By exuberant derivation of dents specializing in theory, though, as predictions. How do theories combine to form larger, more inclusive theories? By required of all our students, they have systematically linking the postulates and predictions of each theory to the postulates another specialty area as well (for both and predictions of every other theory under consideration, thereby arriving at a new intellectual and market reasons). Our basic set of assumptions from which spring all the predictions. And new and appealing theory students are active as a group and ideas can set in motion a new sequence of theoretical events—a new postulate, form a distinct and supportive intellec- generating new implications, the new theory subsequently linked to other (new or tual subculture within the department. old) theories. They meet regularly among themselves, are preparing their own website, and the But theory development does not happen automatically. There are long hours and like. Our students frequently coauthor much travail intellectuel. And there is method. Like cutting a diamond, making wine, with their mentors. We also often hold or playing a musical instrument, method makes wonders. This August at the mini- international conferences on theoretical conference, we shall have an opportunity to think self-consciously and critically about issues. the range of methods now in the service of theoretical sociology—exploring new In addition, I think it could be said methods and new ways to improve old methods, and providing new challenges for that theoretical reflection is widely re- spected throughout our department, not theorists and methodologists alike. The Theory Section, steward of sociological just among those designated as “theo- theory and of the tools for the advancement of theory, can be proud of the part it rists.” One of the capstone courses prior plays. to Ph.D. candidacy, for example, is aimed SEE PAGE 3 FOR THE COMPLETE MINICONFERENCE SCHEDULE Perspectives Page 3

Theory at the ASA Meetings Miniconference Spotlight on The Methods of Theory he 1998 Annual Meeting of the American Sociological Association will take place on August 21-25, 1998 in San Francisco. The Theory Section has scheduled a miniconference consisting of three sessions, an open topics session, a T roundtables session, a business meeting, and a reception to be held jointly with the Section on Mathematical Sociology. All Theory Section events will be held on Monday, August 24. Several other theory sessions have been organized by the ASA Program Committee as well, with topics ranging from the history of sociological theory to postmodernist theory. Other Sessions Organized by the Theory Section MINICONFERENCE: THE METHODS OF THEORETICAL WORK Monday, August 24, 8:30 a.m.-2:15 p.m. Topics in Sociological Theory Session 433. Monday, August 24, 2:30 p.m.- Theoretical Methods I: alism). Ronald L. Jepperson, Stanford Uni- 4:15 p.m. Where Do Theories Come From? versity The theme of this session might be called “New Tools for Conceptualizing Social Phe- Session 355. 8:30 a.m.-10:15 a.m. Three Formal Models of Organizational Inertia: Different Paths in Theory Build- nomena.” Each of the four papers suggests This is a session on the genealogy of ing? Gabor Peli, University of Groningen, a different way of conceiving of social rela- theory, a subject rarely addressed by soci- and Michael Hannan, Stanford University tionships or structures from what has com- ologists or anyone else. Donald Black has monly been used. They suggest an open- asked several prominent theorists to dis- On the Evolution of Organizational ness to rethinking our approaches to theo- cuss the process by which they developed Forms: Formal Models. Laszlo Polos, Uni- retical questions in the discipline. a theory or type of theory, focusing par- versity of Amsterdam, Glenn R. Carroll, Organizer and Presider: David G. Wagner, ticularly on the earliest stages in the cre- University of California, Berkeley, Michael State University of New York, Albany ative process. How and why did it all hap- Hannan, Stanford University, and Gabor pen? Peli, University of Groningen Law and Ideology: A Theoretical Investiga- tion in Conceptualizing the Relationship. Organizer and Presider: Donald Black, Uni- Aging by Default: Reasoning from Em- Cathrine Y. Lee, University of California, Los versity of Virginia pirical Generalizations. Laszlo Polos, Uni- versity of Amsterdam Angeles A Simmelian Inspiration for an Un- Social Networks, Social Movements, and the Simmelian Theory. Peter M. Blau, Univer- Discussion: Michael Macy, Cornell Univer- “Duality of System.” Jeff Livesay, Colorado sity of North Carolina, Chapel Hill sity College Developing Theory of Interaction Ritual Chaos and Conduits of Audibility. Mohammed Chains. Randall Collins, University of Penn- Theoretical Methods III: A. Bamyeh, New York University sylvania Methods for Deriving Predictions from the Postulates Complexity, Simulation, and Ideal Types: My Theory Comes from Working Net- Some Thoughts on Computer Simulation works. Harrison C. White, Columbia Uni- Session 412. 12:30-2:15 p.m. and Empirical Reality. Kevin Mihata and versity Organizer and Presider: Kazuo Yamaguchi, Howard Stine, University of Washington Dreams of Pure Sociology. Donald Black, University of Chicago Discussion: Robert K. Shelly, Ohio University University of Virginia Using the Micromodel Strategy to Derive Implications from Comparison Theory. Guillermina Jasso, New York University Theory Section Refereed Roundtables Theoretical Methods II: Private Games are Dangerous. Ronald S. Session 459. Monday, August 24, 4:30 p.m.- Methods for Constructing Postu- Burt, University of Chicago 5:30 p.m. lates from Starting Ideas The Value of Process Modeling. Kathleen Organizer: Lauren Langman, Loyola Univer- Session 381. 10:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m. M. Carley, Carnegie Mellon University sity Chicago Organizer: Michael Hannan, Stanford Uni- What Do Quantifiers Do When They 1. POST MODERNITY versity Quantify? Trond Petersen, University of Table Presider: Jeffery D. Tatum, University Presider: Michael Macy, Cornell University California, Berkeley of Virginia Relations between Different Theoretical Discussion: Kazuo Yamaguchi, University of Understanding Postmodernism: “Cliff Imageries (with Application to Institution- Chicago Notes” for Sociologists. Murray Milner, Jr., University of Virginia See SESSIONS on Page 4 Page 4 Perspectives

Roundtables, Feminist Theory, and Critical Theory at ASA SESSIONS from Page 3 Medical Modification of the Post Modern Common Ground for the Social Sciences. n addition to theory sessions organized Self: Modern and Post-Modern Influences Daniel Stuhlsatz, University of Virginia by our section, several other sessions on on the Rise of Cosmetic Surgery. Jeffery D. Self-Similar Social Structure. Andrew Abbott, I feminist theory, critical theory, the his- Tatum, University of Virginia University of Chicago tory of sociological theory, and postmodern- ist theory have been organized by the ASA 2. POSTMODERN KNOWLEDGE 7. ACTION THEORY TODAY Program Committee. These sessions are Table Presider: Gavin Kendall, Queensland Table Presider: Helmut M. Staubmann, Uni- listed below. University versity of Innsbruck, Austria Feminist Theory I: Historical Explo- Postmodern or Nonmodernism?: Going Be- The Third Man and His “Thick” Descrip- rations yond Hermeneutics with Michel Foucault tion: An Action-Theoretical Model for the and Bruno Latour. Gavin Kendall, Queensland Social Construction of Unreality. Helmut M. Session 12. Friday, August 21, 8:30-10:15 a.m. University, and Gary Wickman, Murdoch Uni- Staubmann, University of Innsbruck, Austria Organizer: Evelyn Nakano Glenn, University versity Timeless Functional Imperatives and Social of California, Berkeley Emmanuel Levinas and the Moral Displace- Justice. Emanuel Smikun, AMINSO Presider: Ava Baron, Rider College ment of Knowledge, Both Modern and 8. RETHINKING EXTREMISM Feminist Theory Before Gender: Women Postmodern: Rethinking the Relation be- Founders of Social Theory, 1830-1930. tween the Moral and Social Order. Stan J. Table Presider: David Norman Smith, Univer- sity of Kansas Patricia Lengermann, George Washington Uni- Knapp and Darwin L. Thomas, Brigham Young versity and Jill Niebrugge-Brantley, Wells Col- University Goldhagen, Genocide, and Anti-Semitism. lege David Norman Smith, University of Kansas 3. THEORIZING VIOLENCE Freud’s Psychologies of Women: From Social The New Fascism. Carl Boggs, National Uni- Table Presider: Roberta Senechal de la Roche, Constructionism to Biological Determinism, versity Washington and Lee University 1893-1933. Jennifer Pierce, University of Min- 9. PUBLIC POLICY AND THEORY nesota Emotion as Sources of Conflicts. Thomas J. Scheff and Susan Retzinger, University of Cali- Public Policy and “The Good Society”: Gen- Sociology’s Feminist Legacy?: Reading fornia, Santa Barbara eral and Theoretical Perspectives. Carl Durkheim in de Beauvoir. Jennifer Bair, Duke Slawski, California State University, Long University When Does Violence Collectivize? Roberta Beach and Kenneth D. Bailey, University of Women and the ‘Feminine’ in Hegel and Senechal de la Roche, Washington and Lee Uni- California, Los Angeles versity Durkheim’s Social Thought: A Feminist 10. STRUCTURE AND IDENTITY: FEMINIST Critique. Douglas Hartmann, University of 4. METHODS OF THEORY PERSPECTIVES Minnesota Table Presider: Rekha Mirchandani, Univer- Table Presider: Valery Scatamburlo, York Uni- Discussion: Judith Lorber, City University of sity of North Carolina, Chapel Hill versity New York Methods on the Theoretical Frontier: Ten- Consciousness, Agency, and the Female Sub- sions in Conceptual Innovation and Appli- ject. Valery Scatamburlo, York University Postmodern Social Theory cation. Rekha Mirchandani and Albert W. Dzur, The Post-Structural Woman. Jennifer M. Session 126. Saturday, August 22, 8:30 a.m.- University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill Lehmann, University of Nebraska, Lincoln 10:15 a.m. 5. CRITICAL THEORY AND GLOBALIZED The Beauty Context: Looks, Social Theory, Organizer: Charles Lemert, Wesleyan Univ. MODERNITY and Feminism. Lynn S.Chancer, Columbia Presider: Jorge Arditi, University of Buffalo Table Presider: Douglas Kellner, University of University Postmodernism and Sociology: From the California, Los Angeles Epistemological to the Empirical. Rekha Technocapital and the Information Super- Mirchandani, University of North Carolina, highway. Douglas Kellner, University of Cali- Theory Section Business Chapel Hill fornia, Los Angeles Meeting Clarity is Never Innocent: Lacan, Language, Globalization and Its Consequences. Mark Monday, August 24, 5:30-6:15 p.m. and Teaching. Douglas Sadao Aoki, Univer- Gottdiener, State University of New York, sity of Alberta, Edmonton Buffalo Theory Section Reception Feminist Politics, Community Formation, 6. SOCIOLOGY AND SOCIAL STRUCTURE and the Concept of Structural Aporias. Monday, August 24, 6:30 p.m. Table Presider: Daniel Stuhlsatz, University Natasha Kraus, University of Buffalo of Virginia See MEETINGS on Page 8 Perspectives Page 5

Conference in Poland Four New Books The Legacy and Heritage Series Features Cooley, Promise of Anderson, Elias, and Sorokin

Znaniecki’s he University of Chicago Press is publishing four new books this year in its Theory Heritage of Sociology series. On Self and Social Organization by Charles T Horton Cooley, edited by Hans-Joachim Schubert, is a collection of Cooley’s September 22-24, 1998. Florian Znaniecki’s best work on human communication, social organization, public opinion, self and Theory and the Challenges of the 21st Century, community. On Hobos and Homelessness, by Nels Anderson, edited by Raffaele Rauty, Lublin, Poland. includes Anderson’s ethnographic work on homeless men, the juvenile and the tramp, the unattached migrant, and the family. On Civilization, Power, and Knowledge, by Norbert lorian Znaniecki is among the sec- Elias, edited by Stephen Mennell and Johan Goudsblom, is a collection of Elias’s ond generation of classical socio- most important writings on upper class etiquette, art and culture, violence, sport, the logical theorists, with this year F development of knowledge and the sciences, and the methods of sociology. On the marking the 115th anniversary of his birth Practice of Sociology, by Pitirim A. Sorokin, edited by Barry V. Johnston, includes and the 40th anniversary of his death. His essays from Sorokin’s early Russian years to his final works in the 1960s. theory seeks to understand social interac- tion, it advocates analyzing the active, con- scious experience of participants, and it is Rationality and Irrationality; (3) Social NEH Offers Fellowships guided by a humanistic concern with cul- Actions: Conflict and Cooperation; (4) tural phenomena. For Znaniecki, then, the Social Person: Socialization and Individu- The National Endowment for the sociology of knowledge is closely tied to alization; (5) State, Nation, Church and Humanities provides support for six to the theory of social action. Revitalized World Society: Integration and Globaliza- twelve months of full-time work on a now by postmodernists, the discussion tion; (6) Legacy of the Methodological project that will make a significant con- about problems of cognition and social Note: Explanation and Interpretation of tribution to thought and knowledge in the phenomena might be more productive if Social Change. humanities. Fellowships for University arguments already expressed in the meth- Teachers, Fellowships for College Teach- odological debate of the 1930s—and in Participants will include Helena Lopata, ers and Independent Scholars, and Sum- particular the original stance of Florian Gary Alan Fine, Zoltan Tarr, Zygmunt mer Stipends are offered. The next dead- Znaniecki—were remembered and taken Baumann, Jef Verhoeven, Pierpaolo line is October 1, 1998 for the summer into consideration. This international con- Donati, Luigi Tomasi, Uta Gerhardt, stipends. For further information con- ference aims to contribute to the integra- Birgitta Nedelman, Horst J. Helle, Arnold tact: NEH Fellowships and Summer Sti- tion of the heritage of the 20th century Zingerle, Gabriele Cappai, Hans Joas, pends, Room 318, National Endowment by enlivening the interpretation of Richard Grathoff, Jerzy Smolicz, Jan for the Humanities, 1100 Pennsylvania Znaniecki’s works with reference to vital Szczepanski, Jerzy Szacki, Zygmunt Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20506; the contemporary problems. Discussion will Dulczewski, Jan Turowski, Zbigniew internet address is www.neh.gov. be organized around six leading themes Bokszanski, Marek Ziólkowsk, Leon encompassing problem areas studied by Dyczewski, Joanna Kurczewska, Janusz Sociological Theory Znaniecki, all of which are relevant to Gockowski, Leszek Koczanowicz, Leszek Seeks New Editor theoretical and practical challenges at the Korporowicz, and Elzbieta Halas. A new editor will be needed in 1999 for turn of the century. These themes are: (1) Sociological Theory, the American Sociologi- Pluralistic Cultural Reality: Universalism For further information, contact cal Association’s official theory journal. and Localism; (2) Knowledge in Society: ElzbietaHalas, at [email protected] The ASA publications committee will solicit proposals from potential editors in August 1998, and a final decision is Perspectives is published quarterly in January, April, July, and October. The scheduled for December 1998. If inter- deadline for all submissions is the fifth day of the month before publica- ested in this important and rewarding tion. We welcome news and commentary as well as announcements about position, please contact Craig Calhoun, conferences, journal information, calls for papers, position openings, and the current editor, via email at any other information of interest to section members. craig.calhoun @nyu.edu for more infor- mation. Page 6 Perspectives

Top Theorists Pick Top Ten Texts For Student Reading

TOP TEN from Page 1 of ten books that I, Randall Collins, Donald Levine, Steven Seidman, Jonathan Turner, and Stephen Turner each believes are indispensable to a theorist’s education, particularly those just starting out. Several other theorists were asked to submit lists but did not. Randall Collins, though he provided a list, argues that it is not a very good idea. It is certainly easy to agree with his logic. However, the chances that today’s students will eagerly sit down and read fifty or sixty difficult volumes of theory are about as likely as my becoming the homecoming queen. Heartily recommended as Collins’ ideas may be, they are not much help to the novice.

Alan Sica’s Top Ten 4. FREUD, GROUP PSYCHOLOGY AND THE 5. PARSONS AND SMELSER, ECONOMY AND ANALYSIS OF THE EGO SOCIETY 1. KANT, CRITIQUE OF PURE REASON - with 5. HABERMAS, KNOWLEDGE AND HUMAN 6. GOFFMAN, INTERACTION RITUAL professional instruction INTERESTS 7. COLLINS, CONFLICT SOCIOLOGY 2. HEGEL, PHENOMENOLOGY OF MIND - 6. FOUCAULT, THE HISTORY OF SEXUALITY, 8. LUHMANN, THE DIFFERENTIATION OF with professional instruction INTRODUCTION SOCIETY 3. MARCUSE, REASON AND REVOLUTION: 7. SAID, ORIENTALISM 9. LENSKI, POWER AND PRIVILEGE HEGEL AND THE RISE OF SOCIAL THEORY 8. BUTLER, GENDER TROUBLE 10. TURNER, THE STRUCTURE OF SOCIOLOGI- 4. WEBER, THE PROTESTANT ETHIC AND 9. HALL ET AL., POLICING THE CRISES CAL THEORY, 6TH EDITION THE SPIRIT OF CAPITALISM and/or FROM 10. SAHLINS, CULTURE AND PRACTICAL MAX WEBER What strikes me in my list is how few REASON 5. MANNHEIM, IDEOLOGY AND UTOPIA books of the last twenty years have stuck in my mind. Most of the work over the 6. DILTHEY, INTRODUCTION TO THE HUMAN Stephen Turner’s Top Ten SCIENCES - Princeton Edition last twenty years that I find most useful 1. WEBER, ECONOMY AND SOCIETY is in articles and chapters in books, but 7. GADAMER, TRUTH AND METHOD not whole books that I would take to an 2. WEBER, POLITICAL WRITINGS 8. DURKHEIM, THE ELEMENTARY FORMS island and use for inspiration. OF THE RELIGIOUS LIFE 3. WEBER, METHODOLOGY OF THE SOCIAL SCIENCES 9. SIMMEL, ON INDIVIDUALITY AND SOCIAL FORMS - Levine Anthology 4. FROM MAX WEBER - edited by Gerth Donald Levine’s Top Ten and Mills 10. MERTON, SOCIAL THEORY AND SOCIAL First, I provide a few words on principles STRUCTURE 5. DURKHEIM, SUICIDE that guide my selections. Using other 6. DURKHEIM, THE ELEMENTARY FORMS principles I would readily come up with Having provided this list, I appreciate OF THE RELIGIOUS LIFE completely Collins’ reservations about a different list. For the response to Mr. 7. MAUSS, SOCIOLOGY AND PSYCHOLOGY assigning priority to anybody to the ex- Schmitt, my principles are: (1) the work clusion of anybody else (where are 8. MARY DOUGLAS, HOW INSTITUTIONS should be nontrivially original; (2) it Condorcet, Comte, Spencer, Marx, Mead THINK should challenge and stretch the mind of the reader; (3) it should raise questions and the dozens of other worthies?) Still, 9. CARL SCHMITT, THE CRISIS OF PARLIA- that are currently significant; (4) it should I think these ten would at least suggest MENTARY DEMOCRACY what good theory can be about. be an exemplar of good theory work; (5) 10. CARL SCHMITT, POLITICAL THEOLOGY only one work per author, but the work can be an edition in a second language; Steven Seidman’s Top Ten Jonathan Turner’s Top Ten (6) uncompromising quality; (7) no Durkheim, Marx, or Weber (I assume 1. MARX, CAPITAL 1. SPENCER, THE PRINCIPLES OF SOCIOLOGY familiarity with their works, although it is hard not to stress the indispensability 2. WEBER, THE PROTESTANT ETHIC AND 2. WEBER, ECONOMY AND SOCIETY of The Division of Labor and the Gerth- THE SPIRIT OF CAPITALISM 3. MEAD, MIND, SELF, AND SOCIETY Mills edition of Weber). 3. DURKHEIM, THE ELEMENTARY FORMS 4. DURKHEIM, THE DIVISION OF LABOR IN OF THE RELIGIOUS LIFE SOCIETY See LISTS on Page 7 Perspectives Page 7

search; if the research is important Sociological Theory’s Top 10 (or so) enough it gets called “theory.”

LISTS from Page 6 Randall Collins’ Top Bunch Here I will give a list of the kind of things 1. ARISTOTLE, ETHICS - This is a seminal, that one ought to know, published since It is too easy and tempting to make up challenging, and enduringly relevant 1980: lists of the “top ten” of this or that. It is work. just the kind of numbers game of false 1. NORBERT WILEY, THE SEMIOTIC SELF - 2. HOBBES, MAN AND CITIZEN, edited by precision that we rightly object to in the This is the most important development Gerth - This edition contains Hobbes’ most simpleminded version of positiv- in the symbolic interactionist tradition in critical engagement with Aristotle which ism. In the present instance, I object to it many years. began the project of modern social for three specific reasons: 2. THOMAS SCHEFF AND SUZANNE theory. It includes choice selections of (1) A serious sociologist cannot get by RETZINGER, EMOTIONS AND VIOLENCE; or Hobbes’ original formulations on human with reading just ten books. Maybe you THOMAS SCHEFF, MICROSOCIOLOGY - These motives, political dynamics, and social could say you should master ten main show why the sociology of emotions has science methodology. authors, our so-called “classics.” That become the cutting edge of 3. ADAM SMITH, THE THEORY OF MORAL means read all the major works of Weber, microsociology. SENTIMENTS - This book is a lucid exem- Marx and Engels, Mannheim, Simmel, 3. JACK GOLDSTONE, REVOLUTION AND plar of social psychological discourse; it Durkheim, Mauss, Mead, Schutz, REBELLION IN THE EARLY MODERN WORLD is profoundly original and of current sig- Goffman, Coser, and Homans (which is - This is the best of many impressive nificance. already twelve, to which I would add at recent works on revolution. least Pareto, Levi-Strauss, Mary Douglas, 4. GEORG SIMMEL, THE PHILOSOPHY OF and Dahrendorf). I am not listing those 4. MICHAEL MANN, THE SOURCES OF MONEY - This is one of the most mind- who no longer have anything uniquely SOCIAL POWER - This is state-of-the-art stretching works in the literature, and a substantive to say to us but which one for our historical knowledge of states, brilliant analysis of the contradictory ten- might want to know for historical inter- class, and conflict mobilization. dencies of modernity. est (for example, Comte, Spencer, 5. IMMANUEL WALLERSTEIN, THE MODERN 5. DEWEY, HUMAN NATURE AND CONDUCT Toennies). That is to say, you have to do WORLD SYSTEM (Volumes 2 and 3 espe- - Dewey offers, perhaps, the most bril- a lot of reading, not ten great books but cially); or for an analytical treatment of liant single American response to the old forty or fifty. There is not any shortcut. world systems theory, CHRISTOPHER dualisms of European discourse. If you want to be well-educated in social CHASE-DUNN, GLOBAL FORMATION. theory, you need to spend two or three 6. CHARLES TILLY, COERCION, CAPITAL AND 6. PARSONS, THE SOCIAL SYSTEM - Despite years in serious, extensive reading effort. notoriously poor editing, the quality of EUROPEAN STATES - It is really worth read- thought in this work is high. It offers (2) I object to the implication that one ing all of Tilly’s major books. can separate theory from substantive re- rich syntheses and new departures, and it 7. PIERRE BOURDIEU, DISTINCTION; DAVE search in sociology. Most of the classic is mind-stretching. HALLE, AMERICA’S WORKING MAN; “theorists” wrote syntheses of empirical MICHELE LAMONT, MONEY, MANNERS AND 7. MERTON, ON SOCIAL STRUCTURE AND work as it existed in their time. Hence MORALS - These are key books on strati- SCIENCE, edited by P. Sztompka - This vol- one needs to know what is going on in fication, sociology’s most central topic. ume offers a choice set of selections with the major research areas. I recommend The substance is so important that it an introduction that lays out some of the reading extensively in good textbooks or becomes theoretical. parameters of theory work for sociology. handbooks: e.g. my Conflict Sociology or Theoretical Sociology, Sanderson’s Societal 8. JANET CHAFETZ, GENDER EQUITY - This The next three are examples of more re- Transformations, or Smelser and Swedberg’s represents the most systematic effort to cent theorizing at its best: Handbook of Economic Sociology. It is a theorize change in gender stratification. moving research front, and you have to 8. EISENSTADT, POWER, TRUST, AND MEAN- 9. VIVIANA ZELIZER, THE SOCIAL MEAN- redo this about every ten years. ING ING OF MONEY - Describes the embed- dedness of money in gender and other 9. TOM SMITH, STRONG INTERACTION (3) If that were not enough, you also need to keep up with the best recent contribu- social circuits. It is a paradigm-breaking 10. HANS JOAS, THE CREATIVITY OF AC- tions. Again there is no sharp dividing book. TION line between theory and empirical re- See MORE LISTS on Page 8 Page 8 Perspectives

More Theory Sessions at ASA Fin-de-Siecle Primitiveness. Fuyuki Kurasawa, La Trobe University MEETINGS from Page 4 The Specter of Fear: Discourse and Safety. Postmodern Terrorism. Samar Farage, Penn- Amy McLaughlin, University of Maryland at The Narrative Turn in Sociology. Peter sylvania State University College Park Hennen, University of Minnesota. Architectures of Anti-Structure: Casting [Post]Modern Democracy and the Matter of Discussion: Gianfranco Poggi, Istituto Bataille in the Projects of Durkheimian Violence: An Exegesis of Wendy Brown’s Universitario Europeo Sociology. Benjamin Bratton, University of Exposures of Modernity. Alexandra Halkias, University of California, San Diego California, Santa Barbara Critical Theory Discussion: Jorge Arditi, University of Buf- Discussion: Robin Leidner, University of falo Pennsylvania Session 232. Sunday, August 23, 8:30 a.m.- 10:15 a.m. Feminist Theory II: Contemporary Organizer and Presider: Jennifer M. Lehmann, History of Sociological Theory Issues The University of Nebraska Session 180. Saturday, August 22, 12:30 p.m.- Session 209. Saturday, August 22, 2:30 p.m.- The Early Frankfurt School Critique of 2:15 p.m. 4:15 p.m. Postliberal Capitalism. Harry F. Dahms, Organizer: Evelyn Nakano Glenn, University Organizer and Presider: Jere Cohen, Univer- Florida State University of California, Berkeley sity of Maryland, Baltimore County Foucault’s Writings on the Iranian Revolu- Presider: Evelyn Nakano Glenn, University of Ferdinand Tonnies on Crime and Society: An tion: Decentering the Debate over Moder- California, Berkeley Unexplored Contribution to Criminological nity. Janet Afary, Purdue University and Kevin Gender, Religion and the Imagining of the Sociology. Mathieu Deflem, Purdue Univer- Anderson, Northern Illinois University Indian Nation. Mahua Sarkar, Johns Hopkins sity Recapitulation and Reconstruction of His- University Lester Frank Ward as a Sociologist of Gen- torical Materialism, or, On Habermas. B. Toward a Meso Theory of Race, Class and der: A New Look at His Sociological Work. Ricardo Brown, Pratt Institute Gender. Barbara Ellen Smith, University of Barbara Finlay, Texas A & M University No Body There: Habermas and Feminism. Memphis Scientific Mythologies: Levi-Strauss and Joan Alway, The University of Miami.

MORE LISTS from Page 7 tuating networks. It is the Finnegan’s Wake new ones of this quality that will appear 10. BRUNO LATOUR, SCIENCE IN ACTION - of avant-garde social theory. Its diffi- in the next few years. The bottom line is: This is the most brilliantly written social culty is mitigated somewhat if read in after that initial two to three years or so constructivist treatment of science. conjunction with White’s Careers and of intensive reading, you need to devote 11. HARRISON WHITE, IDENTITY AND CON- Creativity, which applies the same model some time every year to keeping up with TROL - This is another paradigm breaker, to the arts. the cutting edge. attempting to construct a general theory I am leaving off at least another ten of how social units crystallize out of fluc- important recent books. And there are Committee Rosters Finalized The Theory Prize Committee now has New Book on Emotions and Social Theory its full five members: Murray Webster, Emotion, Social Theory and Social Structure: A Macrosociological Approach, by J.M. Jr. (Chair), Karen Cook, Stephen Barbalet, Cambridge University Press, 1998. Turner, Henry Walker, and Harrison C. White. The Theory Prize and Shils- This book examines key aspects of social structure using an understanding of emo- Coleman Prize winners will be an- tions such as fear, resentment, shame, and confidence. It proposes to redefine in nounced on Monday, August 24 at the section business meeting. sociology the roles that emotions play in social processes. While much has been written on the social consequences of pathological emotions, this book demon- A membership committee has also strates the centrality of emotions to everyday operations of social interaction. In been formed. Members of the com- revealing the importance of emotions in sociology, Barbalet reevaluates the nature mittee are Margaret M. Marini (Chair), and history of social theory. Contents include chapters on: emotion in social life and Barbara Meeker, and Douglas D. social theory; emotion and rationality; class and resentment; action and confidence; Heckathorn. conformity and shame; rights, resentment and vengefulness; fear and change.