For the first time the historically significant accounts of modernity have been brought together, including essays by the main thinkers, such as Marx, Parsons, Mannheim, Giddens, Bourdieu and Adorno, as well as previously unseen material by lesser known figures. Modernity: Critical Concepts provides academics, students and researchers with the most comprehensive collection of material available and is aimed at all those seeking further information both within and beyond their own areas of interest. The articles included have been arranged into four volumes:
* Modernization
* Cultural Modernity
* Modern Systems
* After Modernity
The concept of modernity is central to sociology, philosophy and cultural studies and is used as a critique of numerous traditions and disciplines including economics, politics, ethics, selfhood and knowledge.

Introduction by: Malcolm Waters