Peter Wagner is Professor of Social and Political Theory in the Department of Political and Social Sciences, European University Institute, Florence

• PART ONE: RECONSIDERING THE HISTORY OF THE SOCIAL SCIENCESAs a Philosophical Science Unjustifiable, as an Empirical Science Anything Else but NewClassical Sociology and the First Crisis of ModernityTime of Politics, and Not of LawPolitical Analysis during the First Crisis of ModernityAdjusting Social RelationsSocial Science and the Organization of ModernityThe Mythical Promise of Societal RenewalSocial Science and Reform CoalitionsOut of StepThe Social Sciences in the Second Crisis of ModernityPART TWO: RETHINKING KEY CONCEPTS OF THE SOCIAL SCIENCESChoice and Decision-MakingAction and InstitutionCulture (with Heidrun Friese)SocietyPolityModernity

Peter Wagner´s study is surely very helpful for those who study the interrelations between developments in the society and the historical evolution of social sciences. For all students who search a small volume, Wagner´s study is quite appropriate: Thus, one of the most advantages in this regard is Wagner´s pragmatist approach: to show this central problem by a short and equally well informed book. \All in all: The key concepts of present sociology referred in the second part of the book can be understood better by examining the history of social sciences themselves.