Economic Sociology or Developments in West European Politics 2

Economic Sociology

Author: Jeff Hass

Economic sociology has grown in recent times as more departments offer courses in the subfield or include it in survey courses. However, much economic sociology remains specialized, aimed primarily at other academics or graduate students. Existing texts assume high technical and theoretical experience, have less rigor than desired, or have a limited focus (e.g. networks, culture and taste, work). Further, topics such as public policy and state-economy relations are often relegated to political science. Yet socioeconomic development, the rise of markets, organizations, and policies are, like inequality or labor, immanently sociological since the birth of the discipline. Also, recent years have given us two important issues: globalization (and the extent of its true impact), and transitions from Soviet socialism to capitalism (an experiment in social transformation).
This text provides students with theory and data. It locates economic sociology in broader currents: in the debates with economic theory (and each theory presents a brief overview of economists' views of the subject at hand); in the broader intellectual history and ideas of sociology generally (e.g. how state-centered economic sociology is linked to developments in political sociology); and in current policy debates and issues (e.g. over post-socialism, welfare, and globalization).

Interesting textbook: The Well Rounded Pregnancy Cookbook or Sweets

Developments in West European Politics 2

Author: Paul M Heywood

This completely new replacement volume of the highly successful Developments in West European Politics adopts an entirely reconceived framework focusing centrally on the capacity, legitimacy, effectiveness and resilience of the states of Western Europe and the challenges they face at the start of the new millennium. Bringing together specially-commissioned chapters by leading authorities it will be essential reading for students and specialists alike.

Table of Contents:

	List of Tables
	Preface and Acknowledgements
	Notes on the Contributors
	Introduction: West European States Confront the Challenge of a New Millennium	1
1	Europe at the Crossroads	17
2	Globalization, EMU and Welfare State Futures	37
3	Reorganizing Security in Europe	56
4	Nationalism and Collective Identities: Europe versus the Nation-State?	77
5	Participation and Voting	94
6	Party Systems, Electoral Cleavages and Government Stability	115
7	Extremist Movements	135
8	Executive Capacity and Legislative Limits	151
9	Disintegration or Reconfiguration? Organized Interests in Western Europe	168
10	Political Corruption, Democracy and Governance in Western Europe	184
11	Territorial Politics and the New Regionalism	201
12	Environmental Challenges	221
13	The Information Society	241
14	European Immigration Policies at the Crossroads	259
15	Crime, Trafficking, Prostitution and Drugs	277
	Guide to Further Reading	294
	Bibliography	300
	Index	325