From its first edition in 1979, "Perspectives in Sociology" has provided generations of undergraduates with a clear, reassuring introduction to the complications of sociological theory. This fifth edition has been wholly rewritten and restructured. While retaining its wealth of information about the founding figures of sociology, it also includes much new material on contemporary social theory and particularly the challenge to sociology posed by the rise of post-structuralism with its questioning of the whole enlightenment project.