Indhold: The classical theories (Emile Durkheim (1858-1917) ; Talcott Parsons (1902-1979) and structural functionalism ; Karl Marx (1818-1883) and marxism ; Max Weber (1864-1920)) ; The successors (Norbert Elias (1897-1990) ; Critical theory, the Frankfurt school and Jürgen Habermas (1929-) ; Herbert Blumer (1900-1987) and symbolic interactionism ; Michel Foucault (1926-1984) ; Pierre Bourdieu (1930-2002)) ; The present (The latest modern age ; Modernisation theory)