Sociology & Criminology for a Changing World
Risk Society (1986) by Ulrich Beck laid the foundation for a sociology of modernity that no longer focuses primarily on class and production relations but on socially produced risks. The book quickly became a classic in the social sciences and has significantly shaped debates on globalization, individualization, and ecological crises. What is a Risk Society?
The Metropolis and Mental Life (1903) is one of Georg Simmel’s central works in early urban sociology. It analyzes the effects of the modern metropolis on the life of the individual. Simmel describes how urbanization and social change transform social relationships and shape the mental life of city dwellers. For students, this text is foundational
Émile Durkheim (1858–1917) is considered one of the founding figures of modern sociology. In his seminal work The Division of Labour in Society (De la division du travail social, 1893), he examines how social order and cohesion are maintained in complex societies. His central thesis: while traditional societies are held together by mechanical solidarity, modern