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From International Socialism, No.14, Autumn 1963, p.35.
Thanks to Ted Crawford & the late Will Fancy.
Transcribed & marked up by Einde O’Callaghan for ETOL.
Sociology, A Guide to Problems and Literature
T.B. Bottomore
Allen & Unwin. 32s.
It is nearly impossible to praise this book too highly. It provides a comprehensive outline of sociology as a discipline with its own methods and its own sphere of investigation. The fact that its substantive orientation is towards the social life of India in no way detracts from its usefulness. In each chapter Mr Bottomore discusses the relevant theoretical problems, relates them to comparative empirical findings and then goes on to a more detailed discussion of the applicability of such sociological debate to the Indian situation. As the social history of India raises acute problems that often appear to contradict some of the basic tenets of sociology and social theory, particularly in respect of the influence of religion on the social structure, such an exercise is very rewarding, the more so since Bottomore is well versed in the work of Marx and Marxist exegesis. Indeed Marx is seen primarily as a sociologist, and because of this Marx’s classifications, of different societies must be seen, says Bottomore, as ‘typological constructs’ – i.e. when analysing capitalism Marx was not discussing any particular society, but presenting an idealised accentuation of the characteristics of capitalist societies in general. Similarly Bottomore maintains that the vulgarisation of Marx has tended to make the Marxist theory of social change a mono-causal one, whereas Marx’s account was an exceedingly complex one, involving several distinct but related phenomena, such as the forces of production, the relations of production, class relations and ideologies.
Criticisms can of course be made. In eschewing many of the findings of American sociology, both theoretical and empirical. Bottomore tends to over-emphasise the institutional structure Of society to the detriment of the problems of groups relations. In this respect his neglect of role theory is particularly striking. The fluid and dynamic aspects of social relationships are thus only marginally discussed. However, it is so refreshing to read an introduction to sociology that puts social structure so firmly at the centre of things that it would be churlish to harp on this point. This book is very strongly recommended, not least to those socialists who always treat sociology as if it were a philosophy of history.
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Last updated on 24 March 2010