A History of Sociology in Britain : Science, Literature, and Society

This is the first-ever critical history of sociology in Britain, written by one of the world's leading scholars in the field. Renowned British sociologist, A. H. Halsey, presents a vivid and authoritative picture of the neglect, expansion, fragmentation, and explosion of the discipline during the past century. He is well equipped to write the story, having lived through most of it and having taught and researched in Britain, the USA, and Europe. The story begins with L.T. Hobhouse's election to the first chair in sociology in London in 1907, but traces earlier origins of the discipline to Scotland and the English provinces. There is a lively account of the nineteenth-century battles between literature and science for the possession of the third culture of social studies, setting the context for a narrative history of rapid expansion in the second half of the twentieth century. LSE had a virtual monopoly before World War II. The educational establishment of Oxford and Cambridge opposed its introduction into the undergraduate curriculum. Only the expansion of sociology to the Scottish, Welsh, provincial, and 'new' universities after the Robbins Report of 1963 brought reluctant acceptance of the subject to Oxford and Cambridge. The student troubles of 1968 are then described and the subsequent doubts, confrontations, and cuts of the 1970s and 80s. Then, paradoxically by a Conservative Government, there was a new university expansion incorporating polytechnics and other colleges, with a consequent doubling of both staff and students in the 1990s. Yet the end of the century left sociology riven by intellectual conflict. It had survived the Marxist subversions of the 70s and the feminist invasion. Yet the renewed challenges of various forms of relativism (especially enthno-methodology and post-modernism) still threatened, and at root the war was, as it began, between a scientific quantifying and explanatory subject and a literary, interpretative set of cultural studies.

this Is The First-ever Critical History Of Sociology In Britain, Written By One Of The World's Leading Scholars In The Field. Renowned British Sociologist, A. H. Halsey, Presents A Vivid And Authoritative Picture Of The Neglect, Expansion, Fragmentation, And Explosion Of The Discipline During The Past Century. He Is Well Equipped To Write The Story, Having Lived Through Most Of It And Having Taught And Researched In Britain, The Usa, And Europe.

the Story Begins With L.t. Hobhouse's Election To The First Chair In Sociology In London In 1907, But Traces Earlier Origins Of The Discipline To Scotland And The English Provinces. There Is A Lively Account Of The Nineteenth-century Battles Between Literature And Science For The Possession Of The Third Culture Of Social Studies, Setting The Context For A Narrative History Of Rapid Expansion In The Second Half Of The Twentieth Century. Lse Had A Virtual Monopoly Before World War Ii. The Educational Establishment Of Oxford And Cambridge Opposed Its Introduction Into The Undergraduate Curriculum. Only The Expansion Of Sociology To The Scottish, Welsh, Provincial, And 'new' Universities After The Robbins Report Of 1963 Brought Reluctant Acceptance Of The Subject To Oxford And Cambridge.

the Student Troubles Of 1968 Are Then Described And The Subsequent Doubts, Confrontations, And Cuts Of The 1970s And 80s. Then, Paradoxically By A Conservative Government, There Was A New University Expansion Incorporating Polytechnics And Other Colleges, With A Consequent Doubling Of Both Staff And Students In The 1990s.

yet The End Of The Century Left Sociology Riven By Intellectual Conflict. It Had Survived The Marxist Subversions Of The 70s And The Feminist Invasion. Yet The Renewed Challenges Of Various Forms Of Relativism (especially Enthno-methodology And Post-modernism) Still Threatened, And At Root The War Was, As It Began, Between A Scientific Quantifying And Explanatory Subject And A Literary, Interpretative Set Of Cultural Studies.

Contents......Page 12 List of Figures......Page 14 List of Tables......Page 15 Part I. Context......Page 16 Introduction......Page 18 1. Literature or Science?......Page 30 2. The Rise of Scientific Method......Page 44 Part II. Narrative......Page 60 3. Sociology Before 1950......Page 62 4. British Post-war Sociologists......Page 85 5. Expansion 1950–67......Page 104 6. Revolt 1968–75......Page 128 7. Years of Uncertainty 1976–2000......Page 137 Part III. Analysis......Page 160 8. The Professors......Page 162 9. Celebrated Sociologists......Page 183 10. The Shape of Sociology......Page 195 Part IV. Conclusion......Page 216 11. Epilogue in Eight Essays......Page 218 Appendix 1. The Professorial Survey 2001......Page 240 Appendix 2. Students Numbers and Quality 1950–2000......Page 248 Appendix 3. Citation and Content Analyses......Page 256 References......Page 265 B......Page 282 C......Page 283 D......Page 284 F......Page 285 H......Page 286 K......Page 287 M......Page 288 N......Page 289 P......Page 290 S......Page 291 W......Page 293 Z......Page 294 ## Abstract Literary claims to ownership of the third culture of sociology are considered and the rise of scientific method traced. The institutional history is summarized from the establishment of a chair of sociology at the London School of Economics and Political Science in 1907. Phases of expansion (1950–67), revolt (1968–75) and uncertainty (1976–2000) are described. Analysis of the professors—their origins, careers and fame—is presented. A content analysis of three leading British journals of sociology is reported. An epilogue is finally added of eight essays by well‐known sociologists—A. H. Halsey, Z. Bauman, C. Crouch, A. Giddens, A. Oakley, J. Platt, W.G. Runciman, and J. Westergaard.