History and Social Theory

Offers a reappraisal of the relations between history and the social sciences. Burke discusses the emergence of these disciplines and the most recent developments in the areas of historical sociology and the "new history", including women's history, microhistory and the history of everyday life.

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There has been a growing convergence between history and the various disciplines of the social sciences. As the practice of historical research has become influenced by sociology, anthropology and social theory, so too the social sciences have become increasingly historical in character. In this introductory book, Peter Burke - who has played a central role in the convergence - offers reappraisal of the relations between history and the social sciences. He discusses the emergence of the respective disciplines, the relevance of sociological concepts and methods for historians, the relevance of historical methods and results for sociologists, and the most recent developments in the areas of historical sociology and "the new history", including women's history, microhistory and the history of everyday life. The book is aimed at students and academics in history, sociology and all areas of the humanities and the social sciences.