Social Theory as a Vocation? State of Affairs of Sociological Theorizing in Europe
Social Theory Conference (RN29),
European Sociological Association
August, 2022,
Copenhagen, Denmark
ESA Social Theory Conference is the midterm meeting of the 'Research Network 29 Social Theory' of the European Sociological Association.
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Organizers: ESA Research Network on Social Theory in collaboration with the Department of Sociology, University of Copenhagen, the Centre for Political, Anthropological and Social Theory, Faculty of the Social Sciences, University of Copenhagen (Mikael Carleheden).
The local organizer of the conference is: Mikael Carleheden, University of Copenhagen
| Social Theory as a Vocation? State of Affairs of Sociological Theorizing in Europe |  |
Call for Papers
After the “Golden Age of Social Theory” he celebrated in the 1980s, Jeffrey Alexander recently bemoaned the “abandonment of theoretical discourse”. Already before the turn of the Millennium, in 1997, the late Donald Levine complained about the dismal conditions of social theory in the US. In Scandinavia today, practically no young sociologist would dare to try to make an academic carrier by “writing theory”. General theory is often dismissed as “armchair sociology” and rarely supported by external funding.
On the other hand, we are under the impression that situation differs in other parts of Europe. There are some evidences that theorizing is regarded in much higher esteem on the European Continent. In Germany, France or Italy there are lively debates in social theory, and theoretical sociologists play major roles in public debates as well as in research.
In view of this contrasting images and seemingly diverging tendencies, it seems to us pertinent that the Research Network “Social Theory” in the European Sociological Association addresses these issues. We would therefore like to devote our next mid-term conference to (1) discuss the state of affairs of contemporary social theory in Europe. How should we understand the present state and conditions of social theory? Do we find dissimilar situations for social theory in Anglophone sociology as compared to other parts of Europe? Are there new developments on social theory in different countries, regions or language areas, and what do they look like. What are the social and cultural conditions that allow for or restrict the flourishing of social theory? How and why can social theory become a vocation or a profession? And what is the significance of social theory in sociology, in the social sciences and in the public debates?
This first group of questions requires clarifying (2) the practices and methodologies of social theory. We therefore ask, what do we mean by “social theory”? What is it that distinguishes the activity of doing social theory from social philosophy, on the one side, and empirical work, on the other? How do we do what we do when we theorize in sociology and the social sciences generally? Can we propose methodologies for doing social theory? In view of the conditions of contemporary social theory, working out methods for theorizing seems to be important.
The conference therefore invites papers which discuss (1) the present state of affairs, social and cultural conditions and societal effects of social theory in Europe, and (2) the meaning, practices or methodologies of “social theory” and sociological theorizing?
Key Note Speakers: Richard Swedberg, Cornell University
For further information visit https://www.europeansociology.org/research-networks/rn29-social-theory
| Call for Papers | |
Deadlines:
Abstract submission: 1 June 2022(250 words)
Notification of authors: tbat, 2022
Conference early bird registration: July 15, 2022
Final registration: August 1, 2022
Submissions:
Please submit your proposal (max. 250 words) to: Abstract submission
Conference fees:
Early bird registration:
125 EUR (for ESA members 75 EUR, students 40 EUR)
Late registration:
140 EUR (for ESA members 90 EUR, students 55 EUR)
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Conference venue in Google maps
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