ESA Research Networks
Social Theory Research Network
NEW: The Social Theory Research Network has its own website, at: www.socialtheory.be. Click here.
Call for papers
The Social Theory Research Network is organising a number of sessions at the Torun conference.
If you want to present a paper, please email Patrick Baert (pjnb100@cam.ac.uk)
AT THE LATEST by 15 FEBRUARY
and include the following information about the paper:
name(s) and affiliation(s) of the authors
contact details (postal address, tel, fax, email address)
title of presentation
abstract (max 200 words)
Please note that the ESA is getting strict and has made clear that "... individuals should not be the first author (i.e. presenter) of more than one paper at the ESA conference..." (European Sociologist issue 19)
The papers for the social theory sessions do not necessarily have to deal with the overall theme of the conference, but the organisers hope there will be enough interesting abstracts to organise one session on inequalities.
Possible themes
(other ideas are also welcome):
1. 'Sociological classics': do they still matter?
2. New directions in philosophy of social science.
3. New developments in theorising gender.
4. Social and political theory: contemporary connections.
5. Theorising contemporary society.
6. New developments in theorising culture.
7. Inequality, injustice.
Social theory is, by definition, an enterprise aiming at the formulation of conceptual networks enabling the analysis of era. It does this in developing concepts of orientation and outlining what can be called "conditional ontologies" giving social research conceptual background and methodological tools. As such an enterprise social theory is (1) a distinct field in itself and a form of dialogue with (2) empirical social research of actual societies on the one hand and with (3) civic discourse on the other.
This was the focus of the most prominent classics of sociology such as Durkheim, Simmel, Weber and Marx, and it is because their work contributes to this task in a way providing fruitful insight even today that they are still considered classics. During the period between World War 1 and 11, the work of these European thinkers was taken up by Americans and then provided back to Europeans in an American framework after World War II. This was an important contribution but the reverse side of the Parsonian influence was, however, that it removed the European traditions from their original interests and context of emergence. With the new flourishing period of European social theory this is no more the case. Yet it is important that in addition to international contexts such as the ISA Social Theory Research Committee and national contexts such as Social Theory networks and research committees of the national sociological associations a context where European traditions can face and mutually enrich one another emerges. This is one reason to establish a Research Network in Social Theory for the ESA. Another and equally important reason are the substantial changes European societies are going through at this time. The need for social theory which is informed of these changes is twofold. Firstly, it is important for the development of social theory that it can face these changes and elaborate its concepts accordingly. Secondly, it is important for empirical social research of these changes that a body of social theory exists which is capable of pointing out important research problems and providing methodological tools for their study. To make certain that such social theory will emerge a European research network is needed.
The seeds of the network already exist. "European Journal for Social
Theory" was founded in 1998. In the 4th ESA Congress in Amsterdam 1999 Stream 1 11. 1
"Social Theory: Thinking Europe" was organised with 4 sessions and 15 accepted
papers, and there have been similar sessions in previous ESA Congresses as well. In
Amsterdam, a preliminary business meeting was held. Participants at the meeting expressed
the need for a Social Theory Research Network and outlined future plans. The most urgent
of these circulate around annual meetings, co-operation in publishing and maintaining the
network. It was decided that the network will organise a congress on the theme
"European Social Theory in the Turn of Millennium" in Copenhagen during Fall
2000. First a board for the network will be elected and a draft of rules discussed in a
business meeting held during the conference.
The tasks of the new board will include organising 4-8 thematic sessions on actual themes
in social theory for the 5th ESA Congress in Helsinki in 2001, establishing the network on
the widest possible bases in collaboration with the ISA RC16 on Social Theory, organising
the edition, print and circulation of a membership information bulletin, and arranging
economical resources for all this following the scheme that the network should be able to
organise at least one European social theory conference per year and publish a membership
bulletin at least biannually.
Executive group
| Coordination: | Communication: | Intermediate conference 2002: | Finances |
| Patrick Baert | Caroline Gijselinckx | Vladimir Kultygin | Gilles Verpraet |
Past-coordinators
Risto Heiskala
Margareta Bertilsson
For more information on the Social Theory Research Network, please visit their own website: click here