Staff › Professor Larry Ray

Prof Larry Ray

Professor of Sociology
Email L.J.Ray@kent.ac.uk
Tel 01227 827151

Research

General research interests

My main research interests are sociological theory, globalization, postcommunism, memory and violence. For about 20 years I have been researching the crisis and transformation of post-communist societies and its implications for social theory. In 2005 I published Social Theory and Postcommunism (Blackwell) with William Outhwaite at Sussex University. Following from an ESRC funded project on racially motivated violence in Greater Manchester (with Prof. David Smith, Lancaster University) I have developed an interest in 'hate crime' legislation and its effectiveness in tackling racist violence. This has involved work with the Probation Service, Home Office and other public sector bodies. I have recently published Globalization and Everyday Life (Routledge 2007) which focuses on the diverse ways in which globalization is sustained through and embedded within the practices of everyday life. I am currently working on a book on Violence and Society (Sage). A current and new project is an examination on the emergence of Jewish identity and memory in Poland with particular reference to the contested role of music in articulating relationships to the past.

Current Research Projects

  • Sociology and violence
  • Globalization and the politics of memory
  • Klezmer music revivals in Poland and the USA
  • Racist violence and public policy
  • Social theory and post communism

 

Teaching

My teaching interests at undergraduate and postgraduate levels include globalization, sociology of violence and sociological theory. I currently convene the following modules (and in addition contribute to S0518 Globalization and Social Change and Stage 1 Sociology):

  • SO500 Concepts and Theories in Sociology (core Intermediate level social theory module)
  • SO534 Sociological Approaches to Violence (Higher level module - part of the Sociology and Criminology Programmes)

Recent Publications

  • 2008 Remembrance and ambiguity – sounds and spaces of klezmer ‘revivals’ (published online)
  • 2007    Globalization and Everyday Life London: Routledge
  • 2007    ‘Current Issues and developments in race hate’ Probation Journal, 54, 2:109-24 (with Liz Dixon)
  • 2007    ‘From Postmodernity to Liquid Modernity: What’s in a Metaphor?’ in Anthony Elliott ed. The Contemporary Bauman London: Routledge pp 63-80
  • 2006    ‘Mourning, Melancholia and Violence’ in Duncan Bell ed Memory, Trauma and World Politics London: Palgrave pp 135-56
  • 2005    Social Theory and Postcommunism Oxford: Blackwell. (with William Outhwaite)
  • 2005    ‘Violent Crime’ in Wincup E et al eds. ­Introduction to Crime and Criminology Oxford University Press pp.223-44
  • 2004    ‘Racist Offending, Policing and Community Conflict’ Sociology (with David Smith) vol 38 (3): 681-99
  • 2004    ‘Pragmatism and Critical Theory’ European Journal of Social Theory vol 7 (3): 307-21
  • 2004    ‘Shame, rage and racist violence’ British Journal of Criminology (with D. Smith and L. Wastell) 44:350-368
  • 2003    ‘Understanding Racist violence’ in B. Stanko ed., The Meanings of Violence London: Routledge pp 112-29 (with D. Smith & L. Wastell)
  • 2003    ‘Racist Violence from a probation service perspective: now you see it, now you don’t’ in R. M. Lee and B. Stanko eds, Researching Violence London: Routledge pp 217-31 (with D. Smith & L. Wastell)
  • 2001    ‘Racist Offenders and the Politics of “Hate Crime”’ Law and Critique 12, 3:203-221 (with D. Smith)
  • 1999    Theorizing Classical Sociology Buckingham: Open University Press.

Memberships

Member:
British Sociological Association
British Association for Jewish Studies

Series Editor: Theorizing Society (McGraw Hill/Open University Press)

Editorial Board:
Internet Journal of Criminology (see link below)
Max Weber Studies (see link below)