In conflict and order : understanding society / D. Stanley Eitzen, Colorado State University, Maxine Baca Zinn, Michigan State University, Kelly Eitzen Smith, University of Arizona.

This conflict perspective introductory paperback text emphasizes four themes: diversity, the struggle to achieve social justice, economic and global transformations in the U.S., and a global perspective. In Conflict and Order studies the forces that lead to both stability and change in society. As it examines the standard topics in an introductory course, the authors show how social problems are structural in origin. While the pace of social change is increasing, society's institutions are resistant to change. Eitzen and Baca Zinn challenge students to develop a sociological perspective by questioning their own basic beliefs, and to debate the facts rather than merely accepting the authors' way of looking at the world.

Preface. I. THE SOCIOLOGICAL APPROACH. 1. The Sociological Perspective. Sociology.Assumptions of the Sociological Perspective.Problems with the Sociological Perspective.The Historical Development of Sociology.Sociological Methods: The Craft of Sociology.A CLOSER LOOK: Sociological Questions.RESEARCH METHODS: Minimizing Bias.2. The Structure of Social Groups. The Micro Level.TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIAL LIFE: The Effects of the new Technology on Social Interaction.OTHER SOCIETIES, OTHER WAYS: Women in Moslem Societies.The Societal Level.DIVERSITY: The Societal Reaction to Gay Marriages.3. The Duality of Social Life: Order and Conflict. Social Systems: Order and Conflict.RESEARCH METHODS: Social Scientists and Values.Synthesis of the Order and the Conflict Models.OTHER SOCIETIES, OTHER WAYS: Division and Violence in India.DIVERSITY: The Media's Selective Perception of Race and Class.The Use of the Order and the Conflict Models in This Book.II. THE INDIVIDUAL IN SOCIETY: SOCIETY IN THE INDIVIDUAL. 4. Culture. Introduction to Culture.Culture: The Knowledge That People Share.A CLOSER LOOK: Is the United States Culturally Superior?OTHER SOCIETIES, OTHER WAYS: Cultural Time.Values.A CLOSER LOOK: The Negative Consequences of Overemphasizing Competition in Sport.RESEARCH METHODS: Participant Observation.5. Socialization. Introduction to Socialization.The Personality as a Social Product.A CLOSER LOOK: Learning to Hate.Similarities and Differences among the Members of Society.6. Social Control. Introduction to Social Control.Agents of Ideological Social Control.DIVERSITY: The Amish and Social Control.Agents of Direct Social Control.A CLOSER LOOK: Big Money, Bad Science?OTHER SOCIETIES, OTHER WAYS: Government Control in Singapore.Implications for Contemporary Social Life.TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIAL LIFE: The Internet and the Shrinking Zone of Privacy.Social Control from the Order and Conflict Perspectives.7. Deviance. What Is Deviance?OTHER SOCIETIES, OTHER WAYS: Deviance in Afghanistan.Traditional Theories for the Causes of Deviance.OTHER SOCIETIES, OTHER WAYS: Capitalism and Crime in the Former Soviet Bloc Countries.Society as the Source of Deviance.DIVERSITY: The Criminal Justice System: Unreasonable Stops and Searches by Race.HUMAN AGENCY: The Gay Rights Movement.A CLOSER LOOK: Corporate Perjury and Obstruction of Justice.Deviance from the Order and the Conflict Perspectives.III. THE STUDY OF SOCIETY. 8. Structural Sources of Societal Change: Economic and Demographic. The Structural Transformation of the Economy.TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIAL LIFE: Technological Change and Changing Jobs.The New Immigration and the Changing Racial Landscape.HUMAN AGENCY: Immigrants Fight Back through Workers Centers.The Aging Society.9. Social Stratification. OTHER SOCIETIES, OTHER WAYS: The Caste System in India.Major Concepts.Theories of Stratification.Deficiency Theories.RESEARCH METHODS: How Science Is Affected by the Political Climate.Structural Theories.DIVERSITY: Who Benefits from Poverty?10. Class. Introduction.Dimensions of Inequality.Social Classes.The Consequences of Social Class Position.Social Mobility.Poverty in the United States.HUMAN AGENCY: Coping Strategies among the Poor.Myths about Poverty.A CLOSER LOOK: The New Welfare Policy: A Critique.11. Racial Inequality. Introduction.Racial and Ethnic Minorities.RESEARCH METHODS: Measuring Race and Ethnicity.Explanations of Racial and Ethnic Inequality.Racial Stratification from the Order and the Conflict Perspectives.Discrimination against Blacks and Hispanics: Continuity and Change.HUMAN AGENCY: ERASE-A Model for School Reform.Contemporary Trends and Issues in U.S. Racial and Ethnic Relations.TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIAL LIFE: Racist Web Sites.12. Gender Inequality. DIVERSITY: Is a Gender-Free World Possible?The Differentiation and Ranking of Women and Men.OTHER SOCIETIES, OTHER WAYS: Smart Women Are Ugly?Gender Stratification from the Order and the Conflict Perspectives.Learning Gender.TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIAL LIFE: Where Are the Girls.Com?Reinforcing Male Dominance.Structured Gender Inequality.The Costs and Consequences of Sexism.A CLOSER LOOK: A Square Peg in a Round Hole: Women's Resistance in Traditionally Male-Dominated Fields.Fighting the System.IV. Social Institutions. 13. The Economy. Introduction.Capitalism and Socialism.The Corporation-Dominated Economy.Capitalism and Inequality.Work in U.S. Society.HUMAN AGENCY: Sweatshop Workers Organize and Win.Capitalism in Crisis.14. Power and Politics. Models of the National Power Structure.A CLOSER LOOK: Structural Barriers to Democracy.A CLOSER LOOK: Mischievous Myths about Money in Politics.The Consequences of Concentrated Power.HUMAN AGENCY: The Use of the Courts to Achieve Racial Equality.Conclusion.15. Families. The Mythical U.S. Family.Families in Contemporary U.S. Society.TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIAL LIFE: Making a Baby Ten Different Ways.Changing Family Roles.RESEARCH METHODS: Researching Families.Violence in Families.The Modern Family from the Order and the Conflict Perspectives.Families of the Future.DIVERSITY: Why Family Issues Matter for Lesbians and Gays.16. Education. Introduction.The Characteristics of U.S. Education.DIVERSITY: Cooling Out the Failures.The Political Economy of Education in Corporate Society.Education and Inequality.DIVERSITY: Inequality and Education of the Urban Poor.OTHER SOCIETIES, OTHER WAYS: U.S. Expenditures on Education.Education from the Order and the Conflict Perspectives.17. Religion. Introduction.A CLOSER LOOK: Holy Tortilla.Classical Sociology's Differing Interpretations of Religion.Some Distinctive Features of U.S. Religion.DIVERSITY: Islam in the United States.A CLOSER LOOK: The Heaven's Gate Cult.Class, Race, Gender, Sexuality, and Religion.DIVERSITY: Religions and Patriarchy.Religious Trends.Contemporary Christianity and Politics.Religion from the Order and the Conflict Perspectives.V. HUMAN AGENCY. 18. Human Agency: Individuals and Groups in Society Changing Social Structures. The Sociological Paradox: Social Structure and Agency.Social Movements.A Closer Look: Winning Civil Rights for People with Disabilities.A Closer Look: Students against the Sweatshops.Agency: Social Change from the Bottom Up.Conclusion.Glossary. References. Name Index. Subject Index.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 332-356) and index.