Editor's Introduction: Theorists and Traditions.(Brief Article)

A hallmark of successful creativity, whether in science, the arts and humanities, or practical activism, is a living tradition that reaches across generations. Sociology is fortunate in having a number of such traditions, and there are grounds for optimism that others will emerge from the ferment of our times. A distinguishing feature of the most successful traditions is repeated revival in the work of new theorists, which demonstrates both durability and ongoing relevance.

In this issue we present a set of papers touching in various ways on these themes. Neil Smelser, an eminent representative of the "social relations" perspective, contributes an insightful …