Charles Lemert
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Charles Lemert (born 1937) is an American born social theorist and sociologist. He has written extensively on
social theory Social theories are analytical frameworks, or paradigms, that are used to study and interpret social phenomena.Seidman, S., 2016. Contested knowledge: Social theory today. John Wiley & Sons. A tool used by social scientists, social theories re ...
,
globalization Globalization is the process of increasing interdependence and integration among the economies, markets, societies, and cultures of different countries worldwide. This is made possible by the reduction of barriers to international trade, th ...
and
culture Culture ( ) is a concept that encompasses the social behavior, institutions, and Social norm, norms found in human societies, as well as the knowledge, beliefs, arts, laws, Social norm, customs, capabilities, Attitude (psychology), attitudes ...
. He has contributed to many key debates in social thought, authoring dozens of books including his text ''Social Things: An Introduction to the Sociological Life'', 5th edition (Rowman & Littlefield, 2011). From 1982 to 2010, he taught at
Wesleyan University Wesleyan University ( ) is a Private university, private liberal arts college, liberal arts university in Middletown, Connecticut, United States. It was founded in 1831 as a Men's colleges in the United States, men's college under the Methodi ...
in
Middletown, Connecticut Middletown is a city in Middlesex County, Connecticut, United States. Located along the Connecticut River, in the central part of the state, 16 miles (25.749504 km) south of Hartford, Connecticut, Hartford. Middletown is the largest city in the L ...
. Lemert is distinguished as a theorist in the US, most notably for introducing French theory to American sociology. His first book ''Sociology and the Twilight of Man: Homocentrism and Discourse in Sociological Theory'' (Southern Illinois University Press, 1979) drew from theoretical contributions of the likes of
Michel Foucault Paul-Michel Foucault ( , ; ; 15 October 192625 June 1984) was a French History of ideas, historian of ideas and Philosophy, philosopher who was also an author, Literary criticism, literary critic, Activism, political activist, and teacher. Fo ...
and
Jacques Derrida Jacques Derrida (; ; born Jackie Élie Derrida;Peeters (2013), pp. 12–13. See also 15 July 1930 – 9 October 2004) was a French Algerian philosopher. He developed the philosophy of deconstruction, which he utilized in a number of his texts, ...
in order to critique humanism in sociological theory. Lemert is also known for his instructional texts: ''Social Theory: The Multicultural and Classic Readings ''(Westview Press, 2004) and ''Thinking the Unthinkable: The Riddles of Classical Social Theories'' (Paradigm Publishers, 2007). He maintains a column called Slow Thoughts for Fast Times for the online journa
Fast Capitalism
and edits the Great Barrington Books series for Paradigm Publishers and New Social Formations series for
Rowman & Littlefield Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group is an American independent academic publishing company founded in 1949. Under several imprints, the company offers scholarly books for the academic market, as well as trade books. The company also owns ...
.


Career

Education Lemert received his PhD from
Harvard University Harvard University is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States. Founded in 1636 and named for its first benefactor, the History of the Puritans in North America, Puritan clergyma ...
in 1972 after completing work at
Andover Newton Theological School Andover Newton Theological School (ANTS) was a graduate school and seminary in Newton, Massachusetts, affiliated with the American Baptist Churches USA and the United Church of Christ. It was the product of a merger between Andover Theological ...
and
Miami University Miami University (informally Miami of Ohio or simply Miami) is a public university, public research university in Oxford, Ohio, United States. Founded in 1809, it is the second-oldest List of colleges and universities in Ohio, university in Ohi ...
in Ohio. While a graduate student in the Harvard Department of Social Relations, Lemert studied with Talcott Parsons and Robert Bellah. His dissertation advisor was the theologian Harvey Cox. At the time he completed his dissertation he was a fellow of the Center for Urban Studies (a joint center with MIT and Harvard). He also received an honorary doctorate from the
University of the West of England The University of the West of England (also known as UWE Bristol) is a Public university, public research university, located in and around Bristol, England, UK. With more than 39,912 students and 4,300 staff, it is the largest provider of hi ...
in 2004. Positions Lemert is John C. Andrus Emeritus Professor of Sociology at
Wesleyan University Wesleyan University ( ) is a Private university, private liberal arts college, liberal arts university in Middletown, Connecticut, United States. It was founded in 1831 as a Men's colleges in the United States, men's college under the Methodi ...
, where he taught from 1982 to 2010. Currently, he is Senior Fellow of the Center for Comparative Research at
Yale University Yale University is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701, Yale is the List of Colonial Colleges, third-oldest institution of higher education in the United Stat ...
and he teaches at the
Boston Graduate School of Psychoanalysis Boston Graduate School of Psychoanalysis is a private educational institution that focuses on training psychoanalysts, particularly in the field of modern psychoanalysis. Founded in 1973, it only awards graduate degrees. Its main campus is in B ...
. In 2014, he was appointed the inaugural Vice Chancellor's Professorial Fellow at the
University of South Australia The University of South Australia is a public research university based in Adelaide, South Australia. Established in 1991, it is the successor of the former South Australian Institute of Technology. Its main campuses along North Terrace are ...
, where he contributes to the Hawke Research Institute. He has delivered numerous public lectures and masterclasses at the Hawke Research Institute,
University of South Australia The University of South Australia is a public research university based in Adelaide, South Australia. Established in 1991, it is the successor of the former South Australian Institute of Technology. Its main campuses along North Terrace are ...
's flagship research institute in the social sciences, humanities and creative arts. Some of his lectures have appeared on programs broadcast by the
Australian Broadcasting Corporation The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) is Australia’s principal public service broadcaster. It is funded primarily by grants from the federal government and is administered by a government-appointed board of directors. The ABC is ...
(ABC). Previously, he was Professor of Sociology at
Southern Illinois University at Carbondale Southern Illinois University (SIU) is a public research university in Carbondale, Illinois, United States. Chartered in 1869, SIU is the oldest and flagship campus of the Southern Illinois University Southern Illinois University is a system ...
from 1977 to 1981. He has also held several visiting scholarships at various institutions, including Centre de Sociologie Européenne: Education et Culture, Maison des Sciences de l'Homme, Centre d'Etudes Sociologiques,
Trinity College (Connecticut) Trinity College is a private liberal arts college in Hartford, Connecticut, United States. Founded as Washington College in 1823, it is the second-oldest college in the state of Connecticut. Coeducational since 1969, the college enrolls 2,2 ...
,
Columbia University Columbia University in the City of New York, commonly referred to as Columbia University, is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in New York City. Established in 1754 as King's College on the grounds of Trinity Churc ...
, and
MIT The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is a private research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States. Established in 1861, MIT has played a significant role in the development of many areas of modern technology and sc ...
. He is a member of the
Connecticut Academy of Arts and Sciences The Connecticut Academy of Arts and Sciences is a learned society founded in 1799 in New Haven, Connecticut "to cultivate every art and science which may tend to advance the interest and happiness of a free and virtuous people." Its purpose is the ...
. He is currently Pastoral Associate for the Homeless,
Trinity Church on the Green Trinity Church on the Green or Trinity on the Green is a historic, culturally and community-active parish of the Episcopal Diocese of Connecticut in New Haven, Connecticut, of the Episcopal Church. It is one of three historic churches on the ...
, an Associate in Community Relations and board member, at Neighborhood Housing Services of New Haven, a Vice-Chancellor's Professorial Fellow at The Hawke Institute,
University of South Australia The University of South Australia is a public research university based in Adelaide, South Australia. Established in 1991, it is the successor of the former South Australian Institute of Technology. Its main campuses along North Terrace are ...
, Adelaide, and Senior Research Scholar, Sociology,
Yale University Yale University is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701, Yale is the List of Colonial Colleges, third-oldest institution of higher education in the United Stat ...
.


Recent works

*Introduction to Contemporary Social Theory, with Anthony Elliott (Routledge, 2014) *Uncertain Worlds: World-Systems Analysis in Changing Times, with Immanuel Wallerstein and Carlos Aguirre Rojas, (Paradigm, 2013) *The Structural Lie: Small Clues to Global Things (Paradigm, 2011) *Why Niebuhr Matters (Yale University Press, 2011) *Globalization: A Reader, with Anthony Elliott, Daniel Chaffee, Eric L. Hsu (Routledge, 2010) *Thinking the Unthinkable: The Riddles of Classical Social Theories (Paradigm Publishers, 2007) *Durkheim's Ghosts: Cultural Logics and Social Things (Cambridge University Press, 2006) *The Souls of W.E.B. Du Bois, with Alford A. Young Jr., Jerry G. Watts, Manning Marable & Elizabeth Higginbotham (Boulder & London: Paradigm Publishers, 2006) *Deadly Worlds: The Emotional Costs of Globalization, with Anthony Elliott (Rowman & Littlefield NA, 2006; world rights: Routledge, UK, 2005 as The New Individualism) *Social Things (Rowman & Littlefield, 2005; 3e revised & enlarged; 2005). 2e 2001; 1e 1997. German and Danish editions, 2004 *Postmodernism Is Not What You Think (Paradigm Publishers, 2005; 2e revised & enlarged; forthcoming) Original publisher: Blackwell, 1997. Portuguese/Brazilian Edition, 2001; with a new preface *Sociology After the Crisis (Paradigm Publishers, 2004; 2e revised & enlarged). Original publisher: Perseus Books, 1995–2002 *Globalization: An Introduction to the End of the Known World (Routledge/Paradigm, 2015) *Americans Thinking: An Introduction to American Social Theory (Routledge/Paradigm, 2018) * Silence and Society (Routledge/Paradigm, 2018) * Uncertain Futures: Theories of Capitalism, with Kristin Plys (Routledge/Paradigm, 2018).


References


External links


Faculty Page at University of South AustraliaVideo of Lecture entitled "Future of the World" delivered at Flinders University of South Australia, March 14, 2007.
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lemert, Charles 1937 births American sociologists Columbia University staff Harvard University alumni Southern Illinois University faculty Wesleyan University faculty Miami University alumni Living people