“Towards a New Radical Agenda: A Critique of Mainstreamed Sociological Radicalism.”,
Contemporary Sociology
(2006)
(last updated on 2006/01/03)
Author's Comments:
This is not a book review. It is in fact a
very long review article and I believe and
hope it will generate some discussion and
debate. In fact, I was chosen to write
this "review" by Judith Stepan-Norris
precisely to create a piece for her
inaugural volume as editor of CONTEMPORARY
SOCIOLOGY that would generate discussion
and hopefully create a buzz.
Abstract:
In this long review article (2,400 hundred
words) I challenge the radical Marxist
project in American sociology. First, I
challenge its whiteness. Second, I
challenge its male orientation and
blindness to the centrality of gender.
Third, I critique its class reductionism.
Fourth, I challenge its eurocentrism.
Fifth, I criticize their anal retentive
focus on perfect theory and their
concomitant limited engagement in practical
struggles. Lastly, I suggest that their
incorporation into the mainstream has had
some negative consequences--and most
members of the cohort that led the battle
for Marxism to be part of mainstream
sociology seem unaware of the perils of
incorporation.
