Sociology & Criminology for a Changing World
Introduction Sociology is an empirical and theoretical discipline. In addition to its applied topics and theories (presented here), the field is also defined by its engagement with foundational theoretical perspectives. The works collected below can be considered key works of sociology. Spanning over 150 years of theory-building, these texts are considered classics: they have been
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
The Communist Manifesto by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels is one of the most influential political and social theory texts of modern times. Published in February 1848, it serves as a programmatic text, a theoretical foundation, and a political call to action all at once. With its concise analysis of class struggle and sharp critique
Ferdinand Tönnies’ work „Community and Society“ (1887) is considered one of the earliest and most important key texts in sociology. In this work, Tönnies introduces the fundamental distinction between two forms of social life: the traditionally rooted, emotionally bound community and the rationally calculated, purpose-driven society. This differentiation continues to influence sociological analyses of social
Institutional Anomie Theory (IAT) explains crime as the result of an imbalance between cultural values and social institutions. It argues that high crime rates emerge when a strong cultural emphasis on economic success is combined with institutional imbalance. When economic values dominate other social institutions—such as family, education, and politics—social control weakens, leading to higher
Robert Agnew’s General Strain Theory (GST) explains crime as a response to strainful experiences that generate negative emotions such as anger and frustration. It extends classical anomie and strain theories by broadening the range of sources of strain and by offering a more nuanced, psychologically informed explanation of how strain leads to crime. While Merton’s