John Scott 
British Sociology 
A History

This Palgrave Pivot will present a comprehensive history of sociology in Britain, tracking the discipline’s intellectual developments within the institutional and political context. 





After tracing the early development of the subject as an intellectual field in empirical and idealist philosophy, evolutionism, socialism, and statistical investigations, Scott lays out the trajectory of sociology as an institutionalised discipline. 
British Sociology maps the spread of the subject from the first Sociology Department at LSE to cover the whole country. It considers the establishment of significant professional organisations and journals, and the impact of feminism and political change. Scott also reviews theoretical engagement with Marxism, interactionism, feminism, and post-structuralism and the development of the discipline through research studies of crime, race and ethnicity, community, stratification, health, sexuality, and work.




Set against the backdrop of a changing political context that has seen the growth of neoliberalism and globalisation, and looking forward with the ongoing search for ‘new directions, ‘ this useful and original contribution will appeal to both academics and students across sociology, criminology, and the political sciences. 

Table of Content

1. Pioneers and Early Beginnings. – 2. Sociology and the Post-War Settlement. – 3. Exploring British Society. – 4. Sociology, Neoliberalism, and Beyond. – 5. Intellectual Continuities and New Directions. – 6. Conclusion

About the author

John Scott is Visiting Professor of Sociology at Essex University and Exeter University, UK.