Discourse on Applied Sociology: Volume 1

Description

This engaging and wide-ranging two-volume study urges a balance between theoretical and practical sociology.

This engaging two-volume study pursues a balance between theoretical and practical sociology. The authors are aware of the impasse often deliberately created by the self-conscious language of sociological theory. The primary concern of the applied sociologist is to adapt theoretical knowledge to actual human situations, using it to formulate social policy, investigate domestic and international social problems and create a pragmatic ‘sociology of possibility’.

Volume I, subtitled ‘Theoretical Perspectives’, focuses on the problems and prospects of applied sociology in an era of globalization. The essays emphasize the close association of applied sociology with altruism, identity formation, race and ethnicity. They evaluate the empirical ‘truths’ of sociological theories and examine their relevance for contemporary research, poverty, demographic issues and social policies. The authors agree that the ultimate test of theory is the extent to which it can produce knowledge that ‘works’.

Preface and Acknowledgement; Contributors; List of Abbreviations; Introduction; Re-Orient World History, Social Theory and the Nineteenth Century; The Unique Complexity of Social Phenomena and the Uses of Social Science Knowledge; Unlimited Love, Compassion and Forgiveness: Acts of Moral Exemplars; Theoretical Application; Applied Sociology’s Need to Rethink the Tradition: Sociological Theorizing in a Global Framework; Social Analysis and Social Action; The Applied Sociologist as Craftsman; Applied Sociologists: Its Problems and Prospects; Sociology and its Application in Society: Giving Sociology its ‘Working’ Meaning; The Evolution of Sociology Back to its Applied Future; Contemporary Corporate Crime: Theoretical Perspectives, Cases and Consequences; Index

Sujets

• Sociology

Informations

• Publié par: Anthem Press
• Date de parution: 01 août 2007
• Nombre de lectures: 1
• EAN13: 9781843313700
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 1 Mo

Extrait

DISCOURSE ON APPLIED SOCIOLOGY

Also by Anthem Press

Osella, Filippo and Caroline,Men and Masculinities in India(2007) Ringmar, Erik,Why Europe was First: Social Change and Economic Growth in Europe and East Asia, 1500-2050(2007) Banerjee-Dube, Ishita,Religion, Law and Power(2007) Jerrold, Blanchard,London: A Pilgrimage(2006) Assayag, Jackie and Fuller, Chris,Globalizing India: Perspectives from Below(2006) Brosius, Christian,Empowering Visions(2005) Ringmar, Erik,Surviving Capitalism(2005) Baron, Nick and Gatrell, Peter (eds.),Homelands: War, Population and Statehood in Eastern Europe and Russia, 1918-1924(2004) Flynn, Moya,Migrant Resettlement in the Russian Federation: Reconstructing Homes and Homelands(2004)

DISCOURSE ON APPLIED SOCIOLOGY THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVES

VOLUME 1

Edited by Samir Dasgupta and Robyn Driskell

LONDON  NEW YORK  DELHI

Anthem Press An imprint of Wimbledon Publishing Company www.anthempress.com

This edition first published in UK and USA 2007 by ANTHEM PRESS 75-76 Blackfriars Road, London SE1 8HA, UK or PO Box 9779, London SW19 7ZG, UK and 244 Madison Ave. #116, New York, NY 10016, USA

© 2007 Samir Dasgupta & Robyn Driskell editorial matter and selection; individual chapters © individual contributors.

The moral right of the authors has been asserted.

All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reser ved above, no part of this publication maybe reproduced, stored or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise), without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.

British Librar y Cataloguing in Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Librar y.

Librar y of Congress Cataloguing in Publication Data A catalogue record for this book has been requested.

1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2

ISBN-101 84331254 9 (Hbk) ISBN-13978 1 84331254 3 (Hbk)

Printed in India

To Prof. Jay Weinstein and the global Applied Sociologists who are thinking and working for a better tomorrow and our friends and families for their support and encouragement.

CONTENTS

Preface and Acknowledgement Contributors to this Volume List of Abbreviations Introduction Samir Dasgupta and Robyn Driskell 1. Re-Orient World History, Social Theory and the Nineteenth Century Andre Gunder Frank 2. The Unique Complexity of Social Phenomena and the Uses of Social Science Knowledge Nico Stehr and Reiner Grundmann 3. Unlimited Love, Compassion and Forgiveness: Acts of Moral Examplars Samuel P Oliner 4. Theoretical Application Rosalind A Sydie 5. Applied Sociology’s Need to Rethink the Tradition: Sociological Theorizing in a Global Framework Peter Kivisto 6. Social Analysis and Social Action Amitai Etzioni 7. The Applied Sociologist as Craftsman David J Hartmann and Subhash R Sonnad 8. Applied Sociologists: Its Problems and Prospects Samir Dasgupta 9. Sociology and its Application in Society: Giving Sociology its ‘Working’ Meaning Joy A Alemazung 10. The Evolution of Sociology Back to its Applied Future Tillman Rodabough and Elizabeth Embry 11. Contemporary Corporate Crime: Theoretical Perspectives, Cases & Consequences Nelson Foster and Verghese Chirayath Index

ix x xi 1

27

79

99

125

135

157

165

179

223

237

249

269

PREFACE AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Discourse on Applied Sociology is the collection of essays from the scholars who are excellent in the field of applied sociology. This engaging study urges a balance between knowledge-sociology and use-sociology. The authors are aware of the impasse often deliberately created by the self-conscious language of sociological theory. The primary concern of the applied sociologist is to adapt theoretical knowledge to actual human situations, using it to formulate social policy, investigate domestic and international social problems and create a pragmatic ‘sociology of possibility’. The volumes provide workable guidelines for social scientists, policymakers, planners, administrators and social activists. The reader is also introduced to the sophisticated research methods employed in the social sciences. Emphasizing cross-cultural experiences and a global perspective, the essays study social problems using inductive and deductive approaches, measurable concepts and quantitative analysis. Modern crises precipitated by war, terrorism, anarchy and poverty are examined in practical and realistic terms. Professor Jay Weinstein of Eastern Michigan University, USA, an excellent friend, philosopher and guide has inspired us to undertake such a great venture. We are deeply indebted to him. It has been our pleasure to work with Anthem Press – we thank them for their unfailing enthusiasm. We are also indebted to Prof. Swapan Kumar Bhattacharyaya, Calcutta University, Prof. Pujan Kumar Sen, Dr Partha Sarathi De of University of Kalyani, Prof. Rajat S Mukherjee and Prof. Ranjit Bhadra of North Bengal University, Prof. P N Borthakur of Dibrugarh University, Ms Debjani D Mazumder, Ms Sumitra Dasgupta, Mr Dibakar Dasgupta, Ms Rupa Dasgupta, Ms Sharmistha Dasgupta Saha, Mr Dipankar Dutta Roy, Mr Sanjoy Sarkar and our other colleagues, especially the scholars, students, activists and practicing sociologists for their good wishes and academic support. We are indebted to the contributors for their valuable essays. We are also grateful to Dr Ananda Dasgupta, Prof. Yvonne Braun and Prof. Julia Silvia Guivant. Thanks are also due to distinguished professor Amitai Etzioni, George Ritzer, Leslie Sklair, Prof. Abbas Mehdi and the late Prof. Andre Gunder Frank and his wife Alison Candela for their unwavering encouragement and academic support to this volume.

Kolkata 26 January 2007

Samir Dasgupta and Robyn Driskell

CONTRIBUTORS

Amitai Etzioni, Director, Institute for Communitarian Policy Studies, George Washington University, US. The Late Andre Gunder Frank, formerly Professor Emeritus of Development Economics and Social Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Netherlands. David J Hartmann, Professor and Chairperson, Department of Sociology, Western Michigan University, US. Elizabeth Embry, Ph.D. student in Applied Sociology, Baylor University, Waco, Texas, US. Joy A Alemazung, Chairman of Pan-African Organization for Information and Humanity Service, University of Erlangen, Bavaria, Germany. Nelson Foster, Graduate Student (Sociology), John Carroll University, US. Nico Stehr, Karl Mannheim Professor of Cultural Studies, Zeppelin University, Friedrichshafen, Germany. Peter Kivisto, Richard Swanson Professor of Social Thought and Chair of Sociology, Augustana College, US. Rosalind A Sydie, Professor and Chairperson, Department of Sociology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada. Reiner Grundmann, Reader and Head of Sociology, Aston University, Birmingham, UK. Robyn Driskell, Associate Professor of Sociology at Baylor University, Waco, Texas, US. Samir Dasgupta, Professor and Chairperson, Department of Sociology, University of Kalyani, West Bengal, India. Samuel P Oliner, Emeritus Professor of Sociology, Humboldt State University, California; Founder and Director of the Altruistic Personality Prosocial Behaviour Institute. Subhash R Sonnad, Professor of Sociology, Western Michigan University, US. Tillman Rodabough, Professor of Sociology, Baylor University, Waco, Texas, US, where he is also Research Director for the Centre for Community Research and Development. Verghese Chirayath, formerly Professor of Sociology, John Carroll University, US.