This collection of essays aims to revive the sociological debate on the unintended
unanticipated and unexpected consequences of social action as started by Robert K. Merton in a
classic study of 1936. The contributing authors provide insights on both Merton's work and the
reception it received in the academia. They also go beyond his original formulations to
encompass new theoretical perspectives and empirical interests that have emerged in the
intellectual circumstances different from or opposed to his functionalist theory. The
contributing authors delve into fields as diverse as education law politics financial
markets consumption risks and accidents systemic transformation organizations and
institutional work innovations and Polish studies.
