School of Sociology and Social Policy

Research Interests

My research interests are as follows.

• The history of social thought
• Classical social theory, especially Weber and the liberal tradition
• Contemporary social theory, especially Anthony Giddens and Zygmunt Bauman
• Comparative and historical sociology, especially ‘Western rationality'
• Sociology of science and technology
• Contemporary social transformations: postcommunism and Europe, politics, globalization and capitalism.

Teaching

I teach a level two core module 'Central Problems in Sociology', contribute to and convene a level three optional 'Reading the Classics' module, and run the MA course in Advanced Sociological Theory. The MA comprises a broad survey from the origins of sociology onwards.

PhD Supervision

I am interested in supervising in the following areas.

• A range of classical and contemporary social theorists
• Historical sociological and/or comparative topics
• The sociology of science, technology and bureaucracy
• Contemporary issues of central interest to sociology, for example, 'overcoming the past', de-traditionalisation, post-national identity, cosmopolitanism and human rights
• The sociology of literature

Key Publications

Edited Book 

Ian Varcoe and Richard Kilminster (eds) (1996) Culture, Modernity and Revolution: Essays in Honour of Zygmunt Bauman, Routledge.

Journal Article 

Ian Varcoe (1998) 'Identity and the Limits of Comparison: Bauman's Reception in Germany', Theory, Culture& Society, 15. 

Ian Varcoe (2000) 'Practical Proposals by Scientists for  Reforming the Machinery of Scientific Advice, 1914-17', British Journal for the History of Science, 33.

Chapter in Book 

Ian Varcoe (2003) 'Zygmunt Bauman', in Anthony Elliott and Larry Ray (eds) (2003) Key Contemporary Social Theorists, Blackwell.

Encyclopaedia Entry 

Ian Varcoe (2007) 'Science', in The Blackwell Encyclopedia of Sociology, Blackwell.