Anthony Giddens 
Politics and Sociology in the Thought of Max Weber 

This book provides an interpretation of one of the key aspects of
Max Weber’s work: the relationship between his political and
sociological writings. Weber’s sociological studies have
often been treated as if they were completely separate from his
political attitudes and interests, and in general his political
writings have remained less well-known than his sociological
work.

The book contains three main sections. The first of these analyses
the principal concerns underlying Weber’s political
assessment of the prospective development of post-Bismarckian
Germany. The second examines some of the way in which these views
channelled his interests in sociology and influences his studies of
capitalism, authority and religion. Finally, the third main section
‘reverses’ this perspective, showing how his
conceptions of sociology and social philosophy in turn influenced
the evolution of his assessment of German politics.

Содержание

Acknowledgements and Bibliographical Note 6

1 Introduction 7

2 Main Themes in Weber’s Political Writings 15

3 The Political Context of Weber’s Sociology 28

4 The Sociological Framework of Weber’s Political Thought 40

5 Conclusion 54

Bibliography 60

Об авторе

ANTHONY GIDDENS is the former director of the London School of Economics and Political Science, and is now a member of the House of Lords. He is one of the most influential sociologists and social theorists in the world today, and his many books include The Third Way and The Consequences of Modernity.