This comprehensive volume explores the foundational contributions of the eminent French sociologist Emile Durkheim. It delves into his writings in political sociology and the sociology of education. It discusses the seminal contributions of Emile Durkheim to the development of sociology as a positivist social science. It offers an in-depth analysis of Durkheim's methodological rules for studying 'social facts,' exploring critical topics like the division of labor, education, political society, state, religion, secular morality, socialism, and suicide. Chapter by chapter, the book unfolds Durkheim's life and milieu, providing insights into the background and context that fueled his conceptualization of sociology and the creation of his seminal works. From portraying sociology as an empirical science of human society to dissecting the moral basis of social order and delving into the pathology of suicides, it navigates Durkheim's multifaceted contributions.

The book explores Durkheim's groundbreaking analyses of the interplay between society, religion, politics, and education. It highlights his pioneering contributions to the subdisciplines of the sociology of religion, political sociology, and the sociology of education. It underscores the contemporary relevance of Durkheim's sociological legacy. This book is highly relevant for postgraduate students and researchers in sociology, social anthropology, and social sciences in understanding Emile Durkheim's work in sociology.

Autorentext

N. Jayaram retired as Professor of Sociology from Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai. He was Visiting Professor of Indian Studies at The University of the West Indies, Trinidad. The areas of his interest include the Study of Indian Diaspora and Theory and Methods in Sociology. He was the Managing Editor of Sociological Bulletin (2000-2015), the journal of the Indian Sociological Society, and a recipient of ET Now Education Leadership Award (2013) and Lifetime Achievement Award (2020-21) of the Indian Sociological Society.