"Boris Erasov, a Soviet culturologist, and Yogendra Singh, an Indian sociologist, collaborated to draw attention to a scientific discipline whose role is growing rapidly today. It regards culture not only as a purely liberal arts subject, but also as a component of social regulation. Readers will find the answers to the following questions in ``The Sociology of Culture ''What is the meaning and structure of culture? What is its role in society? What causes changes in culture? What is the relationship between the cultures of East and West? Is the cultural heritage of the East still significant today? What are the main trends in the modernisation of cultures in the newly-independent countries? How can one learn to appreciate the values, tenor and style of another culture? How can one use the knowledge provided by the sociology of culture for improving the general climate of the world and defusing regional conflicts?"