Currents of Thought in African Sociology and the Global Community

Book excerpt: Currents of Thought in African Sociology and the Global Community focuses on research findings further enriched in the realm of the emergent, indigenous African sociology within a global context. An authentic guide, it has potential to expose readers to the intricacy of research in its various ramifications. Its uniqueness consists in casting, in an explanatory framework, what each of the subdisciplines of sociology is all about, while simultaneously discussing the theoretical and methodological orientations in which the accompanying research findings are situated. The transition of sociology in Africa, inextricably tied in with global dimension, is its major theme. And discussion questions/exercises and essays at the end of each chapter constitute a stimulating teaching tool. Its theoretical coverage straddles a wide variety of paradigms - from structural-functional theory and conflict theory to symbolic interactionism, ethnomethodology, dramaturgy, exchange theory, etc. The book will be of use in courses in sociology, anthropology, research methods, global human issues, African and African-American studies, Third World societies, and criminal justice. Besides, it constitutes an experiential celebration of deivory-towerism, emphasizing the involvement of the academic citadel with the community.