Poverty of Sociology Theories or Sociological Theories of Poverty?

Abstract

The paper will explore the contributions of sociological theories to an understanding of poverty and hunger on a world-wide basis. Exploring some of the concerns of classical sociology with the problems of poverty in industrializing Europe, the paper will argue that as sociological theories evolved in the United States and Europe, the concerns with poverty were marginalized, if not altogether disappeared. The exceptions were the works of Sorokin and a few others. With growing theoretical concerns with global issues, sociological interest is now returning to issues of poverty and deprivation. The paper traces the development of sociological theories in light of its attention, overlook and now, a re-focusing on the subject of poverty. The paper concludes that while sociological focus on poverty and deprivation may benefit humanity by attacking one of its scourges, sociological theories themselves stand to benefit from dealing with this problem of great magnitude rooted intricately into the politico-economic as well as the socio-cultural system.