"For contemporary sociologists, the insight that social life is based on dynamic relationships rather than on static entities is of utmost importance. However, the contours of relational sociology still are very fuzzy in the debate. Vandenberghe and Papilloud have put together a cutting edge volume that provides readers with a comprehensive overview of the current state of the art. But much more than that, the book also opens up a wealth of new routes to be taken in future research from ontology to epistemology and moral theory! As such, it will be an indispensable read for everyone interested in new directions for social theory."
—Hartmut Rosa, Professor of Sociology, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena and Director of Max Weber Kolleg, University of Erfurt, Germany

"With the publication of this important volume of essays, relational thinking in sociology is pushed in promising new directions. The papers included here are original, ambitious, thought-provoking, and generative. One finds fresh and creative insights on virtually every page. This is essential reading for anyone interested in the relational turn in sociological theorizing and research."
—Mustafa Emirbayer, Professor of Sociology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA

New Directions in Relational Sociology explores the concept of relation as a dynamic and interconnected process. Bringing together major authors in relational sociology, it guides readers through key discussions and debates on how relations function as complex networks that shape our experiences, practices, and destinies. The book examines diverse conceptions of relationality, offering a comprehensive understanding of its evolution and role in organizing the social world. Challenging traditional notions of relationality and human exchange, it rethinks how relational processes contribute to the becoming of society.

Frédéric Vandenberghe is Professor of Sociology at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and a Bucerius fellow at the Hamburg Institute for Advanced Study (HIAS), Germany.

Christian Papilloud is Professor in Sociological Theory at the Martin-Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Germany.