Explain how the social context at different times during the twentieth century influenced the theories sociologists developed and utilized.

What will be an ideal response?


• Given the transformational power of industrialization and urbanization, both processes were a focus of theory and many theorists utilized the scientific rationality of The Enlightenment to study these processes
• World War I inspired many social theorists to turn their attention to social problems, including colonialism
• Activism during the progressive era compelled many to incorporate race, class and gender into their analysis of social problems
• The Great Depression revitalized Marxist thinking which had been largely suppressed by “red scares”
• The uncertainty of World War II’s outcome compelled many theorists to question progress
• After a Great Depression and Great Wars, people (including social theorists) turned their attention to achieving order and rationality
• Social theory was not immune to the radical 1960s and started to question “the order” of the post war world which culminated in a questioning of modernity in general
• Today, questions of consumption and globalization dominate both our world and the social theories being developed to explain that world

Sociology

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The Cold War was actual warfare between nations that resulted in a change of economic structure from capitalism to communism in some countries

Indicate whether this statement is true or false.

Sociology

The managerial class is composed of middle-level and lower-level managers and top professionals, that typically have considerable say in companywide decisions about the overall investment of profits

Indicate whether the statement is true or false

Sociology

Revolutionary movements often use violent means to achieve their goals.

Answer the following statement true (T) or false (F)

Sociology

A relativist perspective on deviance maintains that definitions of deviance are ______.

A. socially constructed B. inscrutable C. absolute labels D. clearly identifiable

Sociology