Argues that the "class perspective" has become a political straightjacket, which obstructs understanding of contemporary social, cultural and political processes. This book guides the reader through the essentials of the class debate and asks whether class analysis still has validity.

Primarily for undergraduates, this book examines mass social movements. Feminism, ecology and peace movements, Polish Solidarity and European fascism are interpreted in the Australian and world context and contemporary theories are reviewed. The author is senior lecturer in sociology at the University of Tasmania. Part of the TAustralian Sociology' series.

This book analyses the changing political recruitment of the Australian federal parliamentary elite. It argues that the elite's quality has been reduced to a worrisome degree, especially since the 1990s. It suggests that the declining quality of the Australian 'political class' is a major factor behind the declining public trust in politicians.

A comprehensive overview of postmodernization and social change, written for students of social theory, cultural studies and urban and political sociology.

In today's liberal democracies, does the political process focus on the people, or on the political leaders representing them? Building upon the ideas of Joseph Schumpeter and Max Weber, 'Toward Leader Democracy' argues that we are currently seeing a movement toward an increasingly pronounced focus on political leaders - 'leader democracy'. This form of democracy is fashioned by the political will, determination and commitment of top politicians, and is exercised through elite persuasion that actively shapes the preferences of voters so as to give meaning to political processes. As the text reveals, this marks a definite evolution within the world's 'advanced democracies': democratic representation is today realised increasingly through active political leadership, as opposed to the former practices of statistically 'mirroring' constituencies, or the deliberative self-adjustment of the executive to match citizen preferences.

Sociologists used to seek out social inequality in the slums and factories of big Western cities. Jan Pakulski argues that we are now living in a world where inequality is globalised, extending beyond national borders in the context of the world-wide circulation of capital, products, people and ideas.Globalising Inequalities offers a broad overview of traditional and contemporary theories, current debates and trends in social inequality. It analyses inequality on global, national, local and domestic levels, stressing the interdependence between these levels. Pakulski argues that despite popular beliefs, social inequality is not growing at present, but rather taking different forms to those typical of earlier periods. Drawing on the work of De Tocqueville and others, he shows that globalised inequalities are less structured than typical national class hierarchies. Rather, they are increasingly hybrid and fluid, associated with issues of democracy, citizenship, elite power, gender gaps and racial divisions. Globalising Inequalities is a significant contribution to the international debate on social inequality and a valuable student resource. 'Pakulski's book is exceptional in its linking the analysis of globalising inequalities with the history of sociological discussions of inequality. its key contentions are more far-sighted than can basically be found in all of the available literature on the topic.' Dr Craig Browne, University of Sydney