This book highlights the importance of the sociological innovations of Marcel Mauss - a central figure in the development of the social sciences in France - reflecting on his political commitment to cooperative movements and exploring the enduring relevance of his thought to contemporary societal questions.

Christian Papilloud is a sociologist who teaches at the Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg in Germany. Apart from his empirical work, he has authored several books and journal articles on the French and German sociological traditions. These have laid the foundations for his theory of relation and its related methodological framework.