Metafory i performance przemocy – konflikty społeczne i przemoc w świetle rozważań współczesnych teoretyków nauk społecznych

Author(s): Dariusz Grzonka / Language(s): Polish Issue: 2/2014

We live in the world of ubiquitous violence and on the other hand, reflection over violence. Violence breeds violence, but what breeds reflection over the violence? According to Pierre Bourdieu, Harrison C. White, and others, we can say that violence could help us understand the social reality and create a more sophisticated theory which gain together the antisocial behaviors and their social and individual backgrounds. Anton van Harskamp in preface to work Conflicts in Social Science shows, that social violence compare to the others social problems is not a safe field of research. Numerous social scientists find themselves caught up in an inextricable entanglement of scientific conflicts and societal antagonisms, we have thousands – as van Harskamp says – theories about violence and conflicts. In naïve thinking we can say, that violence rose as a form of social metaphor. Especially for Pierre Bourdieu violence and conflicts are connected with the politics of language. In his theoretical and sociological universe, social capital, symbolical power and habitus help understand the hidden dimension of symbolic violence shown as the violence without violence. The next author Slavoj Žižek explore the inner world of violence as a social and language mechanism. Bourdieu and Žižek follow by philosophical and narrative theories show violence in the everyday experience as a pattern of individual behavior. In contrary to these authors, Harrisona C. White explore social conflicts as a part of social networks and social spaces. The leading theories will be divided into three main subjects: metaphors, symbols and performances, especially the Randall Collins conception of interaction ritual chains is preferred as a crucial for understanding the impact of violence into the society.

O świadomości jako socjologicznej kategorii teoriopoznawczej

Author(s): Anna Karnat-Napieracz / Language(s): Polish Issue: 2/2009

Inspiracje intelektualne teorii kultury i społeczeństwa Herberta Marcusego

Author(s): Piotr Mróz,Grzegorz Gruca / Language(s): Polish Issue: 2/2009

Komponent ryzyka w transformacji struktury społecznej

Author(s): Bogusław Blachnicki / Language(s): Polish Issue: 4/2006

Muhammad Khatami’s Reforms in Iran from the Perspective of Transitology and the Outlook for Democratic Change

Author(s): Jakub Koláček / Language(s): English Issue: 1/2024

On May 23, 1997, a victory of Muhammad Khatami in the presidential election in the Islamic Republic of Iran started a brief period of liberalization in the country long mired in a repressive and authoritarian political regime. The new government loosened the restrictions imposed on the public space, widened the scope of some civil liberties and under the slogans of “religious democracy”, “rule of law” and “participation” aroused expectations of a further political change. Nevertheless these expectations were futile and the widely popular reform movement was stifled by a repression on the part of the conservative core of the regime. This study attempts to analyze these events as a failed attempt to democratic transition, leaning on the theory of Guillermo O’Donnell and Philipe Schmitter. It demonstrates that the transitive period under Khatami’s presidency followed the typical path of the disintegration of the post-World War II authoritarian regimes, which usually begins by the split within the governing elite of the régime itself and proceed through gradual and contingent introduction of liberalizing and democratizing reforms by its “soft-liner”. On this basis it attempts to capture the overall dynamic of the transitive process, define its turning points, identify the causes of its ultimate successful obstruction by the “hard-line” conservatives and derive from this experience implications for a possibility of democratic change in future.

Max Weber and the Cultural Evolution

Author(s): Dávid Kollár / Language(s): English Issue: 1/2024

Max Weber’s ambivalent view of evolutionary theory has sparked ongoing debate. While rejecting simplistic social Darwinism, his writings reveal an implicit evolutionary logic underlying broader cultural transformations. Across multiple works, Weber modeled cultural change through the interplay between charismatic innovation and institutional order. This paper argues Weber provides a sophisticated model of cultural evolution by elucidating the relationship between these two forces. The aim is to demonstrate how framing Weber’s dichotomy in evolutionary terms offers novel insight into his nuanced vision of social change.

Politický mýtus, Thomas Robert Malthus a vznik árijské rasové imaginace

Author(s): Ivo Budil / Language(s): Czech Issue: 1/2024

The emergence of Nazi ideology and the rise of Nazism represented one of the most dramatic and tragic events of modern times, the consequences of which humanity is still dealing with today. The doctrine of the superiority of the Aryan race was an integral part of Nazi doctrine and served as a “scientific” justification for German expansionism and the policy of ethnic genocide. The Nazi conception of the German nation as the chosen Aryan racial community was identified as an example of a modern political myth by Henry Tudor in the early 1970s [Tudor 1972: 16]. We will attempt to explain the rise of Aryan ideology using the concept of political myth and Blumenberg’s notion of “work on myth” as the result of the long development of Western genealogical speculation, which underwent a process of secularization during the Enlightenment and once combined with stimuli coming from contemporary natural sciences, was used under the conditions of modern industrial society to “rationally” legitimize inequalities between people. A parallel development, consisting in the attempt to deny by scientific arguments the equality of human beings, despite the spread of liberal ideas inspired, among others, by the American and French Revolutions, took place in the economic sciences, where the doctrine of the British political economist Thomas Robert Malthus gained prominence at the beginning of the nineteenth century. Malthusianism, Aryan race ideology, Social Darwinism, or the eugenics movement thus had a common denominator, which Friedrich August von Hayek called the “counter-revolution of science” or Zeev Sternhell “counter-Enlightenment”.

Urbanizace, industrializace, feminismus a ženské řeholní kongregace moderní doby: Několik poznámek k možnostem sociálních dějin k dalšímu výzkumu

Author(s): Tomáš Petráček / Language(s): Czech Issue: 1/2024

The study deals with the typically modern phenomenon of European social and church history, which represents the origin and development of women’s religious congregations. It places the development of this specific form of women’s monastic life in the historical context and shows its connection with the modernization trends of Western society, especially with urbanization, industrialization and the rise of women’s and civic emancipation. Above all, it deals with the question of to what extent the methods and approaches of social history, historical anthropology and history of mentalities can still contribute to a deepened knowledge of this phenomenon. On the other hand, it demonstrates how the history of the activity of women’s congregations needs to be integrated into the economic and social history of the 19th and 20th centuries and what potential they entail for microhistory and history of everyday life.

Kam kráčíš, Ameriko? Vývoj hnutí za občanská práva v polovině 60. let 20. století

Author(s): David Fronk / Language(s): Czech Issue: 1/2024

The United States of America was on its move towards equal civil rights in the middle of 60s. The movement mostly formed and led by the personality of Martin Luther King, achieved many of its goals. The support of the Washington government was unquestionable, and the presidency of Lyndon B. Johnson made legislatively great moves in the way of remedy of the old injustice connected mostly with numerous Afro-American minority. From this point of view, it is not surprise that these steps could be signs of a positive turn. But was it actually true? However, there were still plenty things to do. It was clear that just few signatures on the papers with laws could not bring the change on their own. Change of the society takes some time and before everyone who meant the change seriously appeared a new challenge. The abolition of segregation meant that the focus of the ones who were discriminated shifted to the North of the USA and the question was whether King and his colleagues will be successful also there and how the nature of the struggle for the civil rights will change.

Stát jako organismus? Kritická reflexe dosavadních interpretací konceptu státu Friedricha Ratzela

Author(s): Martin Urban / Language(s): Czech Issue: 1/2024

Friedrich Ratzel (1844–1904) is often portrayed in the Czech context as a controversial figure in the development of political-geographical or geopolitical thought. This is probably a consequence of the lack of attention and research interest in the Czech Republic. Nevertheless, his conception of the state resonates quite strongly in the domestic literature. Available sources indicate that under the influence of Social Darwinism he came up with the idea of the state as a (living or biological) organism that must grow (expand its Lebensraum), become stronger and occupy more and more space in order to survive (in the struggle for life). This interpretation, which is in fact very misleading, forms an important pillar of Ratzel’s overall negative perception. For it implies that his conception of the state is an application of Darwin’s natural selection and the struggle for survival to human society, states and international relations. Such an interpretation of Ratzel’s thought sounds truly sinister, and in this vein could be used to justify territorial expansion as the natural right of the stronger. On closer examination, however, it turns out that the Social Darwinist interpretation of Ratzel’s thought is highly questionable and that his conception of the state cannot be used in this way.

Quo Vadis, Sociology? On Using Metaphors in Sociological-Intellectual Practice

Author(s): David Inglis / Language(s): English Issue: 1/2024

Sociology is always at least two things at once. It is both an idealistic exercise and a realpolitik enterprise, involving both high-minded aspirations and down-and-dirty game-playing. Sociology is constantly caught between its intellectual aspirations, which often have liberatory intents to demonstrate how the world works and to speak truth to the powerful who generally do not want to hear uncomfortable truths, and its academic actualities, of careers, funding regimes, and governmental interference. It also routinely engages in massive and ceaseless self-criticism, and it regularly crucifies certain personages of the past of the discipline, while also resurrecting others. Above all, sociology is a metaphorical science. It needs metaphors to be able to name things that can then be studied, and the chosen metaphors will in turn influence how those things are to be inquired into. The problem is that once fresh metaphors can harden into clichés, standardised thinking is encouraged, and vital aspects of experience are lost to view. This paper considers these dangers and what to do about them.

Harvesting the Outcome: Dynamics of Adoption of New Accountability Method at the Core of a Membership-based Organization

Author(s): Petya Klimentova / Language(s): English Issue: 1/2024

The article traces the organisational dynamics that arise when a new outcome-reporting method is introduced in a membership-based organisation supporting vulnerable informal workers. First, the text clarifies Ricardo Wilson-Grau’s approach and the CLEAR approach to describing results in a framework for representing organisational actions. The article then explores how Luc Boltanski’s concept of “critical judgement” contributes to understanding the challenges inherent in this process. The text emphasizes the importance of critical dispositions and analysis of results, in the sociological perspective of emancipation. Through Boltanski’s ideas, the third part considers the results of participant observation illuminating how organizational members justify their actions to conceptualize, plan and report them as outcomes. Boltanski’s concept helps to understand impact holistically, beyond the result as a completed task (output, i.e. a manufactured product, a printed brochure, an organised event etc.) to the manifestation of a change for the target groups of organizational efforts. An emancipatory perspective shifts the focus from individual effort to actual change for the common good, presenting obstacles and opportunities.

Globalization: the mechanicalization of the world

Author(s): Paul C. Mocombe / Language(s): English Issue: 6/2018

In this article, I put forth the argument that globalization represents a Durkheimian mechanicalization of the world via the Protestant Ethic and the spirit of capitalism under American hegemony, and contemporarily the earth itself and Islamic Fundamentalism are the last remaining counter-hegemonic forces to this process, which threatens all life on earth.

Pirmosios sociologės moters Lietuvoje paieškos metodas, jo taikymas ir galimi sociologijos pirmeivių pavyzdžiai

Author(s): Agota Vaitkienė / Language(s): Lithuanian Issue: 2/2024

When developing research on the history of sociology in Lithuania, it is relevant to include the aspect of gender. The Lithuanian history of the first half of the 20th century is dominated by male surnames, therefore, after describing the historical context and including clear criteria, the method of searching for the first female sociologist in Lithuania is formed and applied, and thus possible examples of the female predecessors of sociology are singled out. After the 2004 Burawoy-inspired discussions of public sociology, there was an opportunity to expand the concept of the science of sociology. By critically analysing the available data, five personalities were suggested (Gabrielė Petkevičaitė-Bitė (1861–1943), Julija Beneševičiūtė-Žymantienė (1845–1921), Stefanija Paliulytė-Ladigienė (1901–1967), Cezaria Baudouin de Courtenay Ehrenhreutz Jędrzejewiczowa (1885–1967) and Ieva Simonaitytė (1897–1978)), whose activities could be related to the field of sociology and who could be classified as female pioneers of Lithuanian sociology.

Kavoliška laisvės sociologija ir jos dėmenys

Author(s): Dainius Genys / Language(s): Lithuanian Issue: 2/2024

Vytautas Kavolis, a prominent Lithuanian sociologist, extensively explored the concept of freedom throughout his academic career, albeit not explicitly under the label of ‘sociology of freedom’. His multidimensional analysis spanned political institutions, cultural norms, historical evolution, and global perspectives, shedding light on the intricate interplay between societal structures and individual freedoms. This article delves into Kavolis’ sociological framework through a political sociology lens, dissecting his nuanced understanding of freedom and its manifestations in various societal contexts. Kavolis’ interdisciplinary approach, methodological originality, and reflexive analysis contributed to a profound exploration of societal liberation and power relations, challenging established paradigms and advocating for a more inclusive and just society. His insights remain relevant today, offering valuable insights into the complex dynamics of social structures and individual agency

DRUMUL NOSTRU CĂTRE DIMITRIE GUSTI

Author(s): Zoltán Rostás / Language(s): Romanian Issue: 2/2020

This short paper is, in fact, a brief presentation of the independent research group the “Gusti Cooperative”, which has been investigating, for twenty years, the history of the Sociological School of Bucharest from a social history perspective. In the article a take a critical stance towards the diachronic practice of the history of sociology promoted from the 1960s onwards, advocating, instead, for a synchronic approach to the Gustian phenomenon. Therefore, in this short exploration, I emphasize that it is necessary to continue in-depth research of the contexts in which the School was active, as well as the need for auxiliary tools, while not attempting to make any kind of synthesis.

MODERNITATEA TENDENŢIALĂ. REFLECȚII DESPRE EVOLUȚIA MODERNĂ A SOCIETĂȚII , EDITURA TRITONIC, BUCUREȘTI, 2016. CONSTANTIN SCHIFIRNEŢ

Author(s): Ion Matei Costinescu / Language(s): English Issue: 2/2020

This review essay examines the theory of tendential modernity, elaborated by Constantin Schifirneț, through the lens of decolonial theory. It attempts to put these two macrosociological paradigms into a critical dialogue.

TARİH, PANDEMİ, ORTAÖĞRETİM TARİH DERS KİTAPLARI

Author(s): Yusuf Arslan / Language(s): Turkish Issue: 26/2023

The coronavirus pandemic, which first started in China, has brought social life to a standstill all over the World. Although the pandemic seems to be one of the subjects in medicine and health, it has also a significant relationship with history education. Would it be rational to expect individuals to make sense of the current situation, negotiate, and exhibit consistent behaviors, if they were not informed completely about pandemics in the past? How would you react when you face with such an incident if you do not have any idea about the subject matter? If you are uninformed about the issue or destroyed for lack of knowledge you need, then how can you find the sources of error? Based on the qualitative research method, this study attempts to find the answer to these questions. The data were analyzed with the descriptive analysis technique and the conclusions were drawn from the responses. The samples constituting this study are limited to the history textbooks of Compulsory and Elective Secondary Education that were used between the years 2019-2020. Therefore, the findings and results of the study are restricted only to the textbooks of the years mentioned above. Moreover, they do not cover any other academic semesters and textbooks. According to the results of this study, it has been observed that the subjects covering the past epidemic cases that take place in secondary school history textbooks are not sufficiently mentioned. It has also been found that there has been a very crucial demand to teach students about past examples of epidemic cases and how their ancestors overcame them by getting rid of these cases. In conclusion, it is possible to contribute history textbooks to make students learn from their ancestors and be more knowledgeable to defend themselves if they face such epidemic cases in the future.

SOCIAL ANALYSIS, VOLUME 13, 2023, SCIENTIFIC JOURNAL OF SAPIENTIA HUNGARIAN UNIVERSITY OF TRANSYLVANIA

Author(s): Sorin Mitulescu / Language(s): Romanian Issue: 1/2024

Volume 13 of 2023 of the journal Social Analysis contains several contributions on sociology in Romania and Hungary at different moments of evolution during the twentieth century. The first four articles deal with aspects of the activity of the Bucharest Sociological School, while four other contributions concern sociology in Hungary. In several articles there are comparisons between the two sociological movements or references to broader developments in Central and Eastern Europe. If about Romanian sociology we receive only information related to the Monographic School, regarding Hungary the articles have a much wider area: from nationalist sociological concerns at the beginning of the twentieth century, to the reorganization of sociology after the Revolution of 1956 and reaching biopolitical approaches with echoes in contemporary Hungary.

THE REPRESENTATION OF FOOD ON THE IRISH STAGE FROM 1968 TO 2023 IRISH FOOD HERITAGE: FROM COLONIAL DEPRIVATION TO POSTCOLONIAL UNEXPECTED GASTRONOMICAL FUSION

Author(s): Virginie ROCHE-TIENGO / Language(s): English Issue: 1/2023

Conjuring the representation of food as well as its opposite counterpart, hunger, requires a kaleidoscopic approach to understanding the role, consumption of, and craving for food both on and offstage in the Republic of Ireland from the period of the Troubles (1968-1998) to post-Brexit Ireland. This includes examining its presence in Irish theatres, its representation, its appropriation, and political glorification, as well as its associated rituals from the cradle to the grave (anniversaries, celebrations, festivals, rites of passage, funeral ceremonies) to explore interrelated topics such as postcolonial dietary habits and a vanishing cultural identity overflown by an unfathomable process of globalization. How is food or hunger portrayed on stage? To what extent does food reflect changing modes of sociability and highlight an international gastronomical fusion? We will first explore how the representation of food as well as its opposite counterpart, hunger during the Troubles partake in the shaping of a national identity. We will then see how a growing number of translations and adaptations of foreign writers changed the representation of food on the Irish stage before and after the Good Friday Agreement (1998) engendering a culture and language in which the Irish, after centuries of hosting a foreign linguistic host, felt at home. And finally, we will focus on the representation of food in the various adaptations of Molière on the Abbey stage from 1968 onwards to demonstrate a growing socio-cultural and gastronomical interest in Molière exemplified by the latest translation/ adaptation of Tartuffe by Frank McGuinness