Twenty Years of the Journal of Historical Sociology

Over the last twenty years the Journal of Historical Sociology has redefined what historical sociology can be. These essays by internationally distinguished historians, sociologists, anthropologists and geographers bring together the very best of the JHS. Volume 1 focuses on the British state, Volume 2 on the journal’s wider interdisciplinary challenges.

• The first in a two-volume anthology representing the best articles published in The Journal of Historical Sociology over the last twenty years.
  
• Includes essays, debates and responses written by internationally distinguished historians, sociologists, anthropologists and geographers as well as by pioneering newer scholars have been influential in challenging and redefining the field of historical sociology.
  
• Spans a range of issues and topics that combine rich empirical scholarship with sophisticated theoretical engagement, bringing together the very best of the JHS.
  
• A collection of essays on state formation from medieval times to the present, focussing mainly on the British state.

Foreword: A Curious Little Magazine.

Introduction.

Part I: Perspectives:.

1. Notes on the Difficulty of Studying The State: Philip Abrams (JHS Vol. 1, No. 1, 1988).

2. The Genesis of American Capitalism: An Historical Inquiry Into State Theory: Claude Denis (JHS Vol. 2, No. 4, 1989).

3. Who Needs The Nation? Interrogating “British” History: Antoinette Burton (JHS Vol. 10, No. 3, 1997).

Part II: Studies:.

4. The Peculiarities of the English State: G.E. Aylmer (JHS Vol. 3, No. 2, 1990).

5. Engla Lond: The Making of an Allegiance: Patrick Wormald (JHS Vol. 7, No. 1, 1994).

6. The Beginnings of English Imperialism: John Gillingham (JHS Vol. 5, No. 4, 1992).

7. The English State and the ‘Celtic’ Peoples 1100-1400: Rees Davis (JHS Vol. 6, No. 1, 1993).

8. Hand and Mouth: Information Gathering and Use in England in the Later Middle Ages: Colin Richmond (JHS Vol. 1, No. 3, 1988).

9. Civilizing Northumberland: Representations of Englishness in the Tudor State: Steven G. Ellis (JHS Vol. 12, No. 2, 1999).

10. Science, Power, Bodies: The Mobilization of Nature as State Formation: Patrick Carroll (JHS Vol. 9, No. 2, 1996).

11. The Rise of the Information State: The Development of Central State Surveillance of the Citizen in England, 1500-2000: Edward Higgs (JHS Vol. 14, No. 2, 2001).

Part III: Debates:.

When/What Was the English State?:.

12. Gerald Aylmer And DGOS: Derek Sayer (JHS Vol. 15, No. 1, 2002).

13. When/What Was the English State: The Later Middle Ages?: Colin Richmond (JHS Vol. 15, No. 1, 2002).

14. ‘The State as Monarchical Commonwealth’: ‘Tudor’ England: Patrick Collinson (JHS Vol.15, No 1, 2002).

15. The Medieval State: The Tyranny Of A Concept?: Rees Davis (JHS Vol.16, No. 2, 2003).

16. There Were States in Medieval Europe: A Response to Rees Davis: Susan Reynolds (JHS Vol. 16, No. 4, 2003).

The Ghost of Max Weber:.

17. Contentions of the Purse between England and its European Rivals from Henry V To George IV: A Conversation With Michael Mann: Patrick Karl O’Brien (JHS Vol. 19, No. 4, 2006).

18. Putting the Weberian State in its Social, Geopolitical and Militaristic Context: A Response To Patrick O’Brien: Michael Mann (JHS Vol. 19, No. 4, 2006).

Index

Yoke-Sum Wong is a Lecturer in Sociology at Lancaster University, UK.

Derek Sayer is Professor of Cultural History at Lancaster University, UK. He is the author of ten books including The Coasts of Bohemia: A Czech History, Capitalism and Modernity, and with Philip Corrigan, The Great Arch.

This two-volume anthology represents the range of articles published in The Journal of Historical Sociology over the last twenty years. These essays, debates and responses by internationally distinguished historians, sociologists, anthropologists and geographers as well as by pioneering newer scholars have been influential in challenging and redefining the field of historical sociology. Spanning a range of issues and topics that combine rich empirical scholarship with sophisticated theoretical engagement, they bring together the very best of the JHS. The first volume includes key articles on the British state by sociologists and historians and the second volume challenges the nature of undertaking interdisciplinary work within history and the social sciences. Together, both volumes contribute to the sustained and coherent engagement of history and the social sciences in Britain and elsewhere.

Volume 1 is a collection of essays on state formation from medieval times to the present, focussing mainly on the British state. It includes contributions from a number of prominent British historians and is essential reading for academics and students of historical sociology, anthropology and political and cultural research.