This accessible book introduces the story of ‘social science’, with coverage of history, politics, economics, sociology, psychology, anthropology, and geography.

Key questions include:

• How and why did the social sciences originate and differentiate?
• How are they related to older traditions that have defined Western civilization?
• What is the unique perspective or ‘way of knowing’ of each social science?
• What are the challenges—and alternatives—to the social sciences as they stand in the twenty-first century?

Eller explains the origin, evolution, methods, and the main figures, literature, concepts, and theories in each discipline. The chapters also feature a range of contemporary examples, with consideration given to how the disciplines address present-day issues.