Power and Society: An Introduction to the Social Sciences / Edition 14

by Brigid C. Harrison

Overview

Employing the central integrative theme of power, POWER AND SOCIETY, 14th Edition, introduces you to each of the social sciences and demonstrates how they differ in their focus and methods. It also presents an interdisciplinary viewpoint to illustrate the nature and uses of power in society. This compelling book will stimulate your interest in the social sciences as it explores some of the central challenges facing American society, such as ideological conflict, racism and sexism, poverty and powerlessness, crime and violence, community problems, and international relations.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781305576728
Publisher:	Cengage Learning
Publication date:	01/01/2016
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	480
Product dimensions:	7.30(w) x 9.10(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Brigid Callahan Harrison is professor of political science and law at Montclair State University, where she has taught since 1994. In addition to Power and Society, she is the author of AMERICAN DEMOCRACY NOW (Fourth Edition, McGraw-Hill Publishers, 2015), A MORE PERFECT UNION (McGraw-Hill Publishers, 2011), WOMEN IN AMERICAN POLITICS (Wadsworth, 2003), and various journal articles. A frequent commentator in print and electronic media on U.S. politics, Harrison often provides political analysis to FOX News, local affiliates of ABC, NBC, and CBS, and NPR radio programs. She writes a weekly column on New Jersey politics for The Bergen Record, and her editorials have appeared in THE NEW YORK TIMES, USA TODAY, THE STAR-LEDGER, and THE PRESS OF ATLANTIC CITY. Harrison s research interests include Congress and the Presidency, and American public opinion. She is an expert on the politics of the Millennial Generation. She received her M.A. from Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, and her Ph.D. from Temple University, where she was a national MENSA graduate fellow. She has served as president of the National Women s Caucus for Political Science, section chair of the Northeast Political Science Association, president-elect of the New Jersey Political Science Association, and president of the Midwest Women s Caucus for Political Science. Inducted into the Atlantic County Women s Hall of fame in 2009, she also was the recipient of the "Distinguished Alumna of the Year" from the Richard Stockton College Council of Black Faculty and Staff.

Table of Contents

Part I: THE NATURE AND STUDY OF POWER. 1. Power, Society, and Social Science. 2. Social Sciences and the Scientific Method. 3. Power and Ideology. Part II: POWER AND THE SOCIAL SCIENCES. 4. Power and Culture: An Anthropologist's View. 5. Power and Sociology: The Importance of Social Class. 6. Power and History. 7. Power and Politics. 8. Power and the Economy. 9. Power and Psychology. Part III: THE USES OF POWER. 10. Power, Race, and Gender. 11. Poverty and Powerlessness. 12. Power, Violence, and Crime. 13. Power and the Global Community. 14. Power among Nations. Notes. Index.

Editorial Reviews

With power as its integrating theme, this text presents central concepts in anthropology, history, sociology, political science, psychology, and economics. The first edition was published in 1975. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Booknews

"The Harrison text offers up-to-date and complete information [and is] well organized. . . . The illustrative 'Focuses' are particularly appealing because they can be used for class discussion and debate, illustrating the material presented in the chapter."

"It is written at the proper level, relatively simply, for undergraduates with little or no background in the subject matter. It is well organized, and the units (parts) break at appropriate times for testing purposes. . . . I particularly appreciate the controversies sections. I like my students to understand that there are legitimate disputes among credible scholars. It makes them more mature and critical in their approach to the subject matter. I try to elicit discussion on these topics."

"I like the integration of power into the topics of the book. Power surrounds us in every aspect of our lives. . . . The case studies are important as they give a face to the material presented in the book. I also like the international perspectives to the topics in each of the chapters."

From the Publisher