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Slideshow 2: Relax (mountains, sports and culture)

Submission
Please submit your proposal (max. 250 words) by email to:
ESA Social Theory Research Network (RN29)
c/o Frank Welz (coordinator), Innsbruck University,
Frank Welz
Please include your institutional affiliation and postal address.

 Deadlines

abstract submission: 18th May 2008
notification of authors: 25th May 2008

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Social Theory and the Sociological Discipline(s)

Social Theory Conference (RN29), European Sociological Association
September 11-13, 2008, Innsbruck, Tyrol, Austria

The ESA Social Theory Conference at Innsbruck University has been the midterm meeting of the RN29 Social Theory of the European Sociological Association. 80 scholars from 28 countries and all continents attended the conference.

Keynote speakers included Roland Robertson (Aberdeen ), Gesa Lindemann (Oldenburg) and Philip Selznick (Berkeley). For the full program and further information please download thepdf Conference brochure.

The conference further included: Social Theory Summit on 1,905m, Seegrube Social Theory Dinner. - The Nordkettenbahn Cableway (Zaha Hadid) whisks skiers, ramblers and theorists all the way up Nordpark-Seegrube. The view over the Inn Valley and Innsbruck is breathtaking, particularly from the Seegrube Restaurant.

 

Reports Call for Papers Participants  Innsbruck Accomodation Travel & Leisure  

 

Please find reports on the meeting in the following journals

 

      by  
Athens Journal 2009, No.1 Greek Anastasia Marinopoulou (Athens)
Austrian Journal of Sociology 2009, 34(1): 99-101 German Steffen Roth (Bern)
Czech Journal 2009 Czech Jan Balon (Prague)
European Sociologist (ESA bulletin) 2009 English Willem Schinkel & Friso van Houdt, (Rotterdam)
Kölner Zeitschrift für Soziologie und Sozialpsychologie 2008, 60(4): 820-823 German Daniel Šuber (Konstanz)
Philosophical Inquiry. International Quarterly 2009, XXXI(1-2): 267-271 English Anastasia Marinopoulou (Athens)
Sotziologicheskoye Obozrenie 2009 Russian Nikita A. Kharlamov & Svetlana Kirdina (Moscow)
Tiroler Tageszeitung 28-09-2008 German Interview with Roland Robertson

 

 

Participants

 


Speakers and further participants
     
Zeynep Alemdar Istanbul, Turkey
Hans Bakker
Guelph, Canada

Jan Balon
Prague, Czech Rep.

Gabriel A. Barhaim
Netanya, Israel
Henning Bech
Copenh., Denmark
Michael Beetz
Jena, Germany
Dieter Bögenhold
Bolzano, Italy
Gerda Bohmann
Vienna, Austria
Eva Bravc
Graz, Austria
Craig Browne
Sydney, Australia
Tine Buffel
Brussels, Belgium
Nilgun Celebi
Ankara, Turkey
Daniel Chernilo
Santiago, Chile
Rodrigo Cordero
Warwick, UK
Jens S. Dangschat
Vienna, Austria
Liliana Donath
Timisoara, Romania
Keith Doubt
Wittenberg, USA
Nail Farkhatdinov
Moscow, Russia
Kenneth F. Ferraro
West Lafayette, USA
Alexander F. Filippov
Moscow, Russia
Doris R. Fine
Berkeley, US
Robert Fine
Warwick, UK
Joachim Fischer
Dresden, Germany
Jürgen Fleiß
Graz, Austria
Stefan Fornos Klein
Sao Paolo, Brazil
Christian Fuchs
Salzburg, Austria
Jeff Goodwin
New York, USA
Jens Greve
Bielefeld, Germany
Haldun Gulalp
Istanbul, Turkey
P. Paolo Guzzo
Palermo/Calabria, Italy
Eleonóra Hamar
Brno, Czech Republic
Rasco Hartig-Perschke
Hamburg, Germany
Kornelia Hauser
Innsbruck, Austria
Jens Christian Hermansen
Copenhag., Denmark
Nikita A. Kharlamov
Moscow, Russia
Christoph Kirchengast
Innsbruck, Austria
Svetlana Kirdina
Moscow, Russia
Gertraud Ladner
Innsbruck, Austria
Kanakis Leledakis
Athens, Greece
Marlene Lentner
Linz, Austria
Gesa Lindemann Oldenburg, Germany Nico Lüdtke
Oldenburg, Germany
Emiliana Mangone Fisciano/SA, Italy
Anastasia Marinopoulou
Athens, Greece
Paulin Mbecke Johannesb., S. Africa
Kevin McSorley Portsmouth, UK
Tamas Meleghy Innsbruck, Austria
Mariam Meynert
Lund, Sweden
Anil Muhurdaroglu
Ankara, Turkey
Heinz-Jürgen Niedenzu
Innsbruck, Austria
Alaattin Oguz
Ankara, Turkey
Ian Parenteau
Ottawa, Canada
Seppo Poutanen Turku, Finland
Max Preglau
Innsbruck, Austria
Werner Reichmann Konstanz, Germany
Roland Robertson Aberdeen, Scotland
Steffen Roth
Bern, Switzerland
Markus Schermer Innsbruck, Austria Willem Schinkel Rotterdam, Netherl. Philip Selznick
Berkeley, USA
Mariana Slavin Timisoara, Romania Mikhail Sokolov
St. Petersb., Russia
Helmut Staubmann Innsbruck, Austria Daniel Šuber
Konstanz, Germany
Csaba Szaló
Brno, Czech Republic
Ehud Toren
Jerusalem, Israel
Nina Toren
Jerusalem, Israel
Hirofumi Utsumi
Osaka, Japan
Frédéric Vandermoere
Gent, Belgium
Friso van Houdt Rotterdam, Netherl.
Gilles Verpraet
Paris, France
Paula-Irene Villa Munich, Germany
Mary Vogel
Oxford/London, UK
Tomoko Watarei
Munich, Germany
Frank Welz
Innsbruck, Austria
Jan Winczorek
Warsaw, Poland
       
  updated 2008-09-20

 

 

Call for Papers

 

 

One cost of sociology’s growth and its institutional success are fragmentation and specialization. However, the continual splicing off into new themes and subfields, and frequent cutting off from traditional links with the classical founders, discipline-wide issues, and subfield-transcending questions are often criticized at ESA and ISA meetings. It ultimately contradicts sociology’s self-understanding in two important ways: first, its widespread post-Kuhnian philosophical foundation and, second, its public role in society.
Consequently, it is increasingly important to remind ourselves what the identity of sociology is and look for unifying links that inspire the breadth of sociological studies, namely, for social theory: How does social theory keep sociology and social sciences together? And, in particular, how does it do that in practice?

The heterogeneity of the national streams of sociology stems not only from differences in the studied social structures but also from the infusion of varying theoretical traditions. Moreover, even the diversity among thematic fields and sub-disciplines within national communities of sociologists can be considered from a similar perspective. Social theory’s unity and diversification among these sociological or social scientific (sub)disciplines, its state-of-the-art, and new developments are thematic interests of the conference.
We invite papers that will analyze social theory at work, e.g. how (and which) social theories operate in one of the sociological sub-disciplines or in sociology in general. Case studies of theory’s impact, application, or neglect in the thematic fields and in the national streams of sociology will also be welcomed. -

We are looking forward to see participants of previous meetings but warmly welcome new colleagues too.

 

 

 

Innsbruck University - SoWi (Social Sciences) - Innsbruck

 

 

Innsbruck
Tyrol, in the heart of Europe (airport in town; 2 hrs to Munich and Bozen by train) , has always been a popular destination for tourists - and from 2008 on: for social theorists. The capital city, Innsbruck, with its 130,000 inhabitants is surrounded by a picturesque panorama of mountain peaks, several of which can be reached by cable cars offering a superb view of the city and the surrounding mountains. The region gives abundant leisure opportunities all year round. In summer mountain-climbing, hiking (15 000 km trails), mountain-biking (4000 km), rafting, canyoning and paragliding, in winter downhill and cross-country skiing, ice-skating, snowboarding and even bobsleighing on the Olympic run.
See SLIDESHOW FOR YOU: SoWi campus - within 2-min. walking distance
SLIDESHOW FOR YOUR COMPANIONS: Relax - mountains, sports and culture

Sowi university
 

 

Innsbruck University, Sowi-Campus
The conference will take place at Innsbruck University, SoWi-Campus (see on the right), Universitätsstraße 15, Innsbruck. The SoWi-building is situated in the very centre of the city. The premises are modern with plenty of glass permitting stunny views. As a contrast there is a historical park, the 'Hofgarten', just behind the building, which you can enjoy whenever you need a break.
From the conference venue (360° presentation of the venue), everything is in shortest walking distance incl. many famous tourist attractions, all kind of restaurants, typical beer gardens, the Golden Roof (livecam Golden roof), the river Inn and the Nordkette mountain cableway station (and the main train station).

Axamer Lizum
   

 

 

Accommodation

 

 

Hotels and Guest houses:
Hotel rooms are already reserved for conference guests. Prices are varying from 55/70 Euro to 102/134 Euro per night (single/double room). Please visit for further information and booking:

For Hotel booking please visit: "Innsbruck Tourism - ESA Social Theory Conference"

Following the link, for seeing prices please click to the relevant hotel. You will also find detailed descriptions and pictures of the hotels. When booking, Innsbruck tourism will usually ask by email reply for a credit card number for verifying your booking. They will not charge your creditcard, even not later; it is supposed that you will pay locally in Innsbruck. Booking Hotel booking link, see above, will put you in communication with Innsbruck tourist office. They will reply to you in any case. - If you have any further question, please contact us (details see below).
Hotel Innsbruck, Hotel Goldene Krone, and Hotel Central are in walking distance to the conference venue "Sowi university", University street (see conference map). The fourth one, Hotel Karwendel, is located 2,5 km from the venue. It is served by bus No. O every 7 minutes (bus stop "Höttinger Au"/Hotel Karwendel, to bus stop "Museumsstraße"; 1,70 Euro).

Weather:
Even in September you are likely to experience glorious sunshine in Innsbruck. Rainy days are not likely and temperatures generally range from 14° to 20°C in the morning. See the weather at www.wetter.at.
In autumn and winter the mountain regions receive more sunshine and clear air than the valleys. The daily and yearly variations in temperature are more pronounced and there is less precipitation

 

 

Travel & Leisure Activities

 

 

Arrival map

Route planner
The official website of the 2008 European Football Championship - "Tirol is the Heart of the Alps and it’s situated in the center of the European Football Championship 2008" - offers an intelligent route planner for your route to Tyrol and Innsbruck. Please visit their homepage at Tyrol :08.

Flying to Innsbruck
Innsbruck has its own airport in town. You will come by taxi or bus "F" (5 minutes) to the center of city. The Bus F stop is just outside the arrival hall. It operates every 15 minutes. - The airport is served by Austrian Airlines, British Airways, etc. but also Easyjet, SkyEurope, Tui/HLX and Transavia.
However, another option could be via Munich airport (further "Easyjet" connections) and getting to Innsbruck in 2 hours by train from Munich. Flying to Tyrol.

Flying to Munich
The airport shuttle from Munich, Germany, to Innsbruck, Austria, would take about 2 hours by car (42 Euro one way; roundtrip 72 Euro). It is served in both directions by Four Seasons Travel airport Taxi, Innsbruck (phone +43 512 584157). For the shuttle you need to make reservations in advance internet. - By regular train it takes 2:18 hrs. (bahn.de, please type "Munich airport", not just "Munich") and will cost about 35 Euro one-way. There are trains leaving Munich airport terminal (first you use the subway "S8" to Munich East/Muenchen Ost, there you will have to change to an EC eurocity train - the subway and the train stop at adjacent platforms, so it's a fast and easy change) every two hours. If your planned train journey Munich-Innsbruck exceeds 3 or even 4 hours, please take care that it does not include an uncomfortable long stop during the night hours anywhere between Munich and Innsbruck.

By train to Innsbruck
Austrian Federal Railways ÖBB: bahn.at From the railway station in Innsbruck it is a 10 minutes walk to the Sowi University building. It is located 2 hrs to Munich (north/160 km) by train or 2 hrs to Bozen (south/117 km).

By car to Innsbruck
By car the A12 Autobahn network (East and West) is easily accessible from all directions. A toll sticker is required. The Arlberg tunnel is a toll road. Extra toll fees are also charged on the A13 Autobahn starting at Innsbruck South entrance. Federal road No 182 towards Brenner pass/ltaly to Ost-Tyrol is easily accessible Felbertauem tunnel or the Italian Val Pusteria. Please note that in Austria also during the day you need to have your car lights on.

SoWi Conference building for you
Wireless internet services are available on the whole SoWi-Campus at no charge; social science library included, plus rooms with a view!

Tyrol for your companions & after work
Tirol - a peak experience 15 000 km of marked mountain and hiking trails, 150 mountains huts and 500 alpine refreshment stations
The cultural diversity to be found in the "Heart of the Alps" offers countless possibilities for discovering the country and its people during your hiking holidays. Walk the culture road - for instance on the Via Claudia Augusta culture trail. Meet the past in one of the museums and pick up interesting architectural and culinary impressions.
Tirol adventure - the very special kick. Tirolean rivers and gorges are a paradise for rafting, kayak or canoe trips. Mountain bikers will find 4000 km of marked bike trails and the new Bike Trail Tirol.

The ancient part of the town
The ancient part of the town can easily be reached on foot. Just a five minutes walk away from the Innsbruck School of Political Science and Sociology (SoWi Building) you can leisurely stroll in the pedestrian zone with its souvenir shops and traditional cafés. Within walking distance you can also find some remarkable churches and historical buildings as well as museums and art galleries.
If you feel more adventurous you can 'climb' the surrounding mountains either by rack railway from the station at the Congress/theater "Landestheater" 2 minutes from SoWi to its "Hungerburg" station (or by taking bus "J" to the "Hungerburg") where you can either continue your altitude flight up the mountain to the top by a further cable car or simply enjoy the beautiful views right there.

Arriving in Innsbruck: Despite its olympic reputation Innsbruck is a small city with only 130 000 inhabitants. Main buildings and places are in short walking distance to each other. However, please take care when you will book your hotel and in particular when you arrive in Innsbruck:
Our university conference building is located north, the main university southern. Our building hosts the social sciences, it is well known by everyone in town as "SoWi" building, for the Social and Economic Sciences. It is located close to 'Goldenes Dachl' (Golden roof), 'Hofburg' and 'Theater' in the north from the main station (10 minutes walk) whereas the main university is located south-west, 15 minutes from "SoWi".

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