Theories of Social Change

Now available in paperback, Theories of Social Change presents a classic statement of Boudon's stance in social theory and empirical sociology. Boudon criticizes the theories of social change that dominated sociology between the early 1950s and the late 1970s, and elaborates his own distinctive account. Suitable for academics, students and researchers in sociology, politics, economics and anthropology.

Foreword. 1. Theories of Social Change. 2. Individual Action, Aggregation Effects and Social Change. 3. The Laws Governing Change: the Nomological Bias. 4. Structures and Change: the Structuralist Bias. 5. The Search for the Prime Mover: the Ontological Bias. 6. A Well-Tempered Determinism. 7. Giving Disorder its Due. Epilogue. Notes. General Index.