Challenges social theory to incorporate gender and other forms of difference and inequality. Rejecting the practice of treating gender as a separate category of analysis, this book demonstrates the relevance of gender and difference for central issues in contemporary social theory and analysis.

This groundbreaking book places globalisation, difference and gender at the heart of social theory, and demonstrates the powerful capacity of complexity theory to enable innovative social analysis. The author challenges social theory to incorporate gender and other forms of difference and inequality, rejecting the practice of treating gender as a separate category of analysis and demonstrates the relevance of gender and difference for central issues in contemporary social theory and analysis.

THEORIES Introduction

What Is Progress and Modernity in the Context of Globalisation and Complex Inequalities Why Complexity Theory Theorising Multiple Social Systems DOMAINS Economies Polities Violence Civil Societies COMPARISONS Comparing Forms of Modernity Measuring Progress

Comparing Countries and Measures Comparative Country Trajectories CONCLUSIONS Conclusions

Contested Futures