Politics and power

Cover -- Half Title -- Title -- Copyright -- Contents -- 1 Introduction -- The philosophy behind the book -- What is the role of political issues within sociology? -- The features of the book -- Content of the book -- 2 Introducing the Nature of Power and Politics in Everyday Life -- Introduction -- Trying to define power and politics -- Two views of power -- Contemporary rethinking on the nature of politics in society -- Conclusion -- 3 Classical Views on Power and Politics -- Introduction -- The role of early sociology in political change -- Problems with the industrial age: class and power inequality -- The dark side of modernist politics -- Conclusion -- 4 Theories on the Nature and Distribution of Power -- Introduction -- A history of ideas -- Theories of democracy in society -- Theories of inequality and unfairness in society -- Conclusion -- 5 A New Sociology of Politics for a New World? -- Introduction -- Theories of power in everyday life -- Interpretative sociologies -- Feminisms and power in society -- Postmodernism and the new sociology of politics -- Conclusion -- 6 Changing Ideologies and the Transformation of Political Parties in the UK -- Introduction -- Varieties of political systems -- Are we interested in politics any more? -- Contemporary UK political ideologies -- How has the political ideological landscape changed? -- Conclusion -- 7 Understanding Individual Political Participation -- Introduction -- Sociology and psephology -- Changes in voting since the second world war -- Contemporary models of voting behaviour -- Voting: will we ever have a clear picture? -- Pressure groups and new social movements -- Conclusion -- 8 Theories on the Role of the State in Society -- Introduction -- Definitions of the state -- The state, citizenship and sovereignty -- Theoretical views on the state -- Conclusion.