My research is informed by relational and historical approaches to sociology. This work involves long-term perspectives in sociological theory and problems of nation, state and society, focussing particularly on Scotland, the UK and Europe.

I am concerned to develop sociological research that illuminates long-term processes underlying social relations, power tensions and state formation. This dates back to postgraduate research that I undertook at the University of Edinburgh on privatisation and public policy (MSc, 1993) and industrial sociology and political economy (PhD, 1997). Since then I have worked, inter alia, on problems of media, nationalism, social policy, and social theory. As well as engaging with public issues and emerging problems in the field, my research interests have also been informed by the changing requirements of teaching.

Drawing upon relational sociology, principally inspired by Pierre Bourdieu and Norbert Elias, recent work examines, amongst other things, sectarianism, the independence referendum in Scotland, and the power dynamics between competitive nationalism and competitive sport in international football competitions.

Current work examines the sociology of unintended consequences since the Scottish Enlightenment. A recent book critically examines social theory in the context of recurring crises, (Social Theory for Today, Sage, 2015) while a co-edited book looks at neglected episodes in the history of sociology, (Sociological Amnesia, Ashgate, 2015).

I am willing to supervise students in any area of relational sociology and social theory. The School offers the following research degrees: one-year MSc by Research, two-year MPhil or three-year PhD.  For more information please email   a.law@abertay.ac.uk