Author: Mitchell, William Clarence.
Title: Sociological analysis and politics : the theories of Talcott Parsons.
Description: Englewood Cliffs, N.J. : Prentice-Hall, 1967. First edition. Orig. cloth binding. Dustjacket. xiv,222 pp. 24 cm. (Prentice-Hall contemporary political theory series). Stamp on title-page. Mailorder only - Alleen verzending mogelijk. Book condition : very good. From the publisher : Sociological Analysis and Politics: The Theories of Talcott Parsons provides a new critical introduction to this famous social theorist written from the perspec tive of a political scientist. Although Parsons has become one of the most controversial sociologists of his time, the author claims his importance is not limited to sociologists alone. Political scientists, Mitchell argues, should be introduced to the relevance of such in terrelated sociological theories as human action, order in society, and political change. Parsons' work is enormous, complex, scattered, abstract, and often abstruse. By synthesizing Parsons' writing from a political per spective, Mitchell makes the contributions of this great social theorist avail able to those who cannot afford long, close, and detailed study of Parsons' work. The author discusses Parsons' lifetime dedication to theory, his attempt to develop logically interrelated sets of categories and concepts which pre sumably enable theories to be de veloped, and his devotion to the task of elaborating a 'logically articulated conceptual scheme' which will allow social scientists a means of organizing their collective product and direct them into fruitful areas of research. Mitchell has organized the chapters in this book to give the reader a concise introduction to Parsons, his basic be liefs, and their derivative theories. He assesses the existing body of Parsons' work and makes some judgements about its potential, and in particular, its value in the study of politics.

Keywords: SOCIOLOGY, Parsons, Talcott (1902-1979)