John Urry (sociologist)

Richard John Urry ( born June 1, 1946 in London ) is a British sociologist. He is Distinguished Professor and Director of the Centre for Mobilities Research at Lancaster University. His works are influential, especially in the social and cultural geography.

Urry studied at Cambridge University, where he obtained the Bachelor 's and Master's Exam and 1972 Ph.D. received his doctorate. Since 1985 he is professor at the University of Lancaster.

Initially regarded his research interests of political power and political revolutions, where he grappled with various Marxist theorists such as Antonio Gramsci and Louis Althusser. Later he turned his research in the social change on a global scale to.

The Roskilde University awarded him an honorary doctorate.

Writings (selection )

• The end of organized capitalism ( with Scott Lash ), Madison (Wisconsin ), 1987, ISBN 0299116700
• The Tourist Gaze: Leisure and Travel in Contemporary Societies, London, 1990, ISBN 0803981821
• Economies of signs and space ( with Scott Lash ), London 1994, ISBN 0803984715
• Sociology Beyond Societies: Mobilities for the Twenty-first Century, London / New York 2000, ISBN 0415190894
• Global complexity, Malden 2003, ISBN 0745628176
• Climate change and society, Cambridge, U.K. 2011, ISBN 9780745650364