Written with precision and clarity, this is a compelling analysis of the central problems of sociological theory today and of the means to resolve them. Argues that we should build on ideas from the 50s and 60s, and not dismiss them.

INTRODUCTION 1 Theory as tool and theory as end-product 2 The rise and fall of modem sociological theory 3 Conceptual pragmatism Part I Diagnosis 1 IMPASSES OF MICRO-SOCIOLOGICAL THEORIZING: OVERREACTION TO PARSONS 2 RATIONAL-CHOICE THEORIES: FROM MICRO FOUNDATIONS TO REDUCTIONISM 3 POST-STRUCTURALISM: THE DEMISE OF BOUNDARIES Part II Tentative Remedies 4 INSTITUTIONAL AND FIGURATIONAL STRUCTURES: PARSONS AND ELIAS 5 ON THE ARTICULATION BETWEEN INSTITUTIONAL AND FIGURATIONAL STRUCTURES: BRINGING PARSONIAN AND MARXIST SOCIOLOGIES CLOSER TOGETHER 6 THE ‘PARTICIPANT-SOCIAL WHOLE’ ISSUE: PARSONS, BOURDIEU, GIDDENS 7 SYNTHESIS AND APPLICATION: A SOCIOLOGICAL RECONSIDERATION OF FUNCTIONALISM CONCLUSION Appendix to the Conclusion: tentative guidelines