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The Blackwell Dictionary of Modern Social Thought

William Outhwaite editor

Format:Hardback

Publisher:John Wiley and Sons Ltd

Published:11th Nov '02

Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back

This hardback is available in another edition too:

The Blackwell Dictionary of Modern Social Thought cover

Modern social thought ranges widely from the social sciences to philosophy, political theories and doctrines, cultural ideas and movements, and the influence of the natural sciences.


  • Provides an authoritative overview of the main themes of social thought.
  • Long essays and entries give full coverage to each topic.
  • Covers major currents of thought, philosophical and cultural trends, and the individual social sciences from anthropology to welfare economics.
  • New edition updates about 200 entries and includes new entries, suggestions for further reading, and a bibliography of all sources cited within the text.

‘This is still the best dictionary around and an effective antidote to the inflated importance given to current gurus of social thought. Students could abandon their textbooks and follow this reference trail.’ Margaret Archer, University of Warwick


‘The scholarship is formidable, the topics serious. But this is also a reference book that is fun to read, often sharp, ironic, and barbed – a distillation of current Social Thought as well as a dictionary.’ Stephen Turner, University of South Florida


‘This book is an indispensable tool for social, political, and intellectual inquiry in general. William Outhwaite has produced a valuable compendium of the key figures, central concepts, influential movements, and important institutions of the modern era. The sum impressively surpasses not only the parts but the peer competitors.’ James Der Derian, Brown University and University of Massachusetts Amherst

'Students new to the volume will find it remains a valuable guide.' David Jary, University of Birmingham

ISBN: 9780631221647

Dimensions: 254mm x 178mm x 53mm

Weight: 1619g

864 pages

2nd edition