Translator's Preface
Preface to the 8th Edition
About this book

1.
What is Sociology
What This Chapter Does | The Sociological Imagination | The Development of Sociological Thinking | What Sociology Is For | Conclusion
2.
Sociologically Asked and Answered Questions
Humans as Research Subjects and Ethical Issues | Science and Sociological Research | Understanding Cause and Effect | Sociological Research in the Real World
3.
Theories and Perspectives of Sociology
Toward a Sociology | Establishing Sociology | Persistent Theoretical Dilemmas | Social Transformation and Sociology | Conclusion: Evolving Sociological Theory
4.
Globalization and Social Change
A Vanishing World | Social Transformation | Globalization | Conclusion: Governing Global Society
5.
environment
Nature, Environment, and Society | Environmental Issues | Consumerism, Risk, and the Path to a Sustainable Future | Conclusion
6.
Cities and city life
Ancient and Modern Cities | Theories of Urbanism | Urban Trends and Sustainable Cities | Urban Management
7.
Work and Economy
A Global Economy in Crisis | Economic Sociology | The Changing Nature of Work | The Social Importance of Work | Conclusion: Flexibility and the "Transformation of the Nature of Work"
8.
Social interaction and daily life
The Drama of Everyday Life | Nonverbal Communication | Face, Body, and Speech in Interaction | Social Rules of Interaction | New Rules of Online Interaction | Conclusion: The Force of Intimacy
9.
Life course
The Social Self and Socialization | The Life Course | Aging | Death, Dying, and Bereavement | The Family as an Institution and Ideology | Family Practices | Family Diversity and Intimate Relationships | The Family in a Global Context | Conclusion
10.
Close relationships with family
'Family' as an Institution and Ideology | Family Practices | Family Diversity and Intimate Relationships | Family in a Global Context | Conclusion
11.
Health, Disease, Disability
Sociology of the Body | Sociology of Health and Illness | Social Foundations of Health | Sociology of Disability | Health and Disability in a Changing World
12.
Hierarchy and class
Class Systems | Theorizing Social Class | Uncovering Class Structure | Class Differentiation in Modern Advanced Societies | Social Mobility | Conclusion: The Enduring Importance of Social Class
13.
poverty, social exclusion, and welfare
Poverty | Social Exclusion | Welfare State | Reforming the Welfare State
14.
global inequality
Are We Moving Toward an Equal Society? | Global Inequality | Unequal Life Chances | Changing Populations | Can Poor Countries Become Rich? | 21st-Century Perspectives on Equality
15.
Gender and Sexuality
Sex, Gender, and Sexuality | The Social Construction of Gender and Sexuality | Gender Inequality | Feminism and the LGBT Movement | Globalization, Human Trafficking, and Sex Work | Conclusion
16.
Race, ethnicity, and immigration
Key Concepts | Does Racism Still Persist? | Ethnic Diversity, Integration, and Conflict | Immigration in a Global Era | Conclusion
17.
religion
Sociological Studies of Religion | Religious Groups and Movements | Trends in Contemporary Religion | Conclusion
18.
Media
Media Diversity in the Global Era | Theorizing Media | Audiences and Media Representation | Ownership, Power, and Alternatives in Global Media | Conclusion
19.
education
Education, Schooling, and Culture | Social Segmentation and Education | Education in a Global Context | The Future of Education and Schooling | Conclusion
20.
Crime and deviance
Basic Concepts | Sociological Theories of Crime and Deviance | Victims and Offenders of Crime | Prisons, Punishment, and Rehabilitation | Crime in a Global Context | Conclusion: Crime, Deviance, and Social Order
21.
politics, government, social movements
Political Sociology | The Global Spread of Democracy | Social Movements and Social Change | Conclusion
22.
Nation, war, terrorism
Nation and Nationalism | War, Genocide, and the Peace Process | Terrorism | Conclusion

References
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The 8th edition of "Modern Sociology," a classic introduction to sociology beloved worldwide.
The magnum opus of Anthony Giddens, the leading authority in sociology.
2018 Revised and Expanded Edition

The eighth revised edition of "Modern Sociology," which has established itself as a classic introductory textbook on sociology by consistently introducing new content in response to changes in the times and academic advancements over the past 30 years since its first publication in 1989, has been released.
Anthony Giddens, a world-renowned intellectual and authority in sociology, has examined the numerous changes we have experienced in society and the various attempts by sociologists to understand them.
Even in this 8th edition, you can feel his efforts to not miss out on new theories and changes.


As an academic discipline that seeks to study and understand society and social life, sociology cannot remain static.
If that happens, sociology will become inadequate and will not be able to provide an adequate explanation of social life.
This basic fact helps explain why, at least from an external perspective, there are countless sociological theories that are constantly changing.
Because the task of sociology is to understand and explain a constantly changing world, it cannot cling to comfortable but outdated theories or explanations.
We must be prepared to test these explanations against the new reality, discard them if they are inadequate, and devise new theories and explanations that are more appropriate to the task.

The 8th edition of "Modern Sociology" introduces the latest theories alongside "classic" theories, allowing readers to understand how sociology, as a part of society, has developed alongside society.
One of our primary goals is to inspire a new generation of sociologists by presenting the most compelling research on topics ranging from crime and inequality, education and sexuality, cyberbullying and global terrorism.
- From the "Preface to the 8th Edition"

1-1.
What's New in Edition 8
A revised edition faithfully reflecting the latest trends in contemporary sociology.
The 8th edition, like the 7th edition, continues the same thematic development method, but has been revised and supplemented with new content to reflect the changing times.
The constant innovation of digital media, the long-term challenge of climate change, the global financial crisis, rapid economic growth in countries like China and India, and terrorist attacks around the world are all impacting global society in new ways.
In this eighth edition, nearly every issue has been reviewed and comprehensively revised to account for new thinking in global development and sociology.


A new chapter on "Race, Ethnicity, and Migration" has been added, and the content on "Gender and Feminism" has been expanded.
The 8th edition includes a new chapter titled “Race, Ethnicity, and Migration” to provide a more in-depth discussion of international conflicts and terrorism that threaten the world, as well as the resulting racial and refugee issues.
Additionally, the content on 'gender and feminism,' which has recently become a major topic and is causing great changes in global society, has been supplemented with the latest cases and theories.


Reflecting the changes in society and human life brought about by the digital revolution
From a global sociological perspective, we focused on how digital technology fundamentally changes human work, interaction, and communication.
Beyond the digital revolution accelerating globalization, the book explores various aspects of life and sociological research brought about by the digital society, including how individuals enjoy their leisure time, how communication transcends spatial and temporal constraints, and the emergence of driverless cars and home robots.


1-2.
Features of this book
1.
A comprehensive introduction covering the theories, historical processes, research, and key issues in each field of modern sociology.
2.
Systematically organizes specialized topics, including the latest issues in modern sociology, for major students.
3.
Enriched with relevant photos, drawings, maps, diagrams, graphs, and examples to enhance readers' understanding.
4.
Each chapter includes various in-depth study corners, such as 『World Society』, 『Classical Studies』, 『Imaginating Sociologically』, and 『Thinking Critically』, allowing readers to approach sociology from a deeper and more diverse perspective.
5.
At the end of each chapter, there are sections such as 『Review』, 『Actual Research』, 『Things to Think About』, 『Society in Art』, 『Further Reading』, and 『Related Homepages』 to encourage active reader participation and deep thinking.

"Modern Sociology" clearly and vividly explains sociological concepts and theories through various examples, making it easy for even laypeople without background knowledge to understand them by reflecting on their own experiences and common occurrences around them.
Therefore, despite being an introductory book containing a vast amount of specialized knowledge, it is not difficult or boring, and is an interesting read.