`A polished piece of work which takes a cool and dispassionate look at subculture... Meticulous and insightful - Jim McGuigan, Professor of Cultural Analysis, University of LoughboroughThis illuminating book, which explores the idea of subcultures, traces the concept back to its foundations in the works of Tonnies and Durkheim and, to a lesser degree, Marx and Weber.The discussion moves on to an analysis of subcultures in American urban sociology and criminology, through the traditions of the Chicago School, structural functionalism and systems theory. The ground-breaking work of Stuart Hall and the Birmingham School is evaluated and a case is made for the continuing relevance of the concept for sociology and cultural studies.The book provides:An unrivalled critical guide to subcultureAn assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of the concept in the study of society and cultureA sharp assessment of its relevance and application today.Both an appraisal and a sustained critique of the concept of subculture, the book will be of interest to students of Sociology, Cultural Studies and Urban Studies.