Sociology Australia

Rob Watts · Judith Bessant

Jan 2007 · Allen & Unwin

About this ebook

Sociology gives us the tools we need to understand our life and the lives of the people around us. It reveals that our commonsense view of the world isn't always right, and enables us to find out what actually shapes our experiences.

In this widely used and very readable introductory text, Judith Bessant and Rob Watts show us how to develop a sociological perspective on what is happening in Australia today. Rapid and far-reaching social changes are taking place which affect us all: globalisation is impacting on our economy and culture; technological developments increase the pace of life; and many people worry about the decline of traditional values and about environmental and personal security. Using a sociological perspective we can explain why different groups of people experience these changes as exciting, unsettling or devastating.

Sociology Australia is structured around six key questions:

* What is sociology?

* Who are we and how do we come to be who we are?

* How do we know the world in which we live?

* Can we make our lives as we want them?

* Who makes the decisions that shape our society?

* What changes are taking place in Australia today?

Sociology Australia is an ideal introduction to the discipline of sociology and to the dynamics of Australian society today. This third edition of Sociology Australia has been substantially revised and updated, and includes new chapters on religion, education and sustainability.

Ratings and reviews

in these words, am I right? have used the mindset with an image model such as directing and directly investigating the words given by opponents. with a description of each word. to reach a series of words formed like the contents of the words. I hope you can make more greetings from Indonesia...<<(( The type of thinking to which Arendt and Macintyre refer is never an easy thing to do. Indeed, it can be quite painful. This may seem like a strange thing to say because we think most of the time. But that kind of thinking is different to what we are talking about here—which is to think critically in ways that reflect our contemporary situation. As Macintyre (1990) has argued, we need to constantly reflect on the older traditions involved in thinking about and defining whatever we mean by ‘rationality’ and to change our ideas about rationality if there is a case to do so. We have already suggested that many Australians believe they live in a time of major change. Does that include the way we might think about and do sociology? We are inclined to think so.

About the author

Judith Bessant is Professor of Youth Studies and Sociology at RMIT University, Melbourne. Rob Watts is Professor of Social Policy at RMIT University. They have written books on a range of sociological topics including social policy, welfare, the role of the state, work, criminology and youth issues.