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Abstract
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’.
'The work is an ambitious effort that draw upon the works of others, provideds a solid historical grounding of sociological practice, and offers as Dasgupta's chapter names it, the 'problem and prospects' of applied sociology.' —Jeffrey R. Breese, Marymount University
This engaging two-volume study pursues a balance between theoretical and practical sociology.
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’.
Samir Dasgupta, D.Litt. is Professor and Chairperson, Department of Sociology at the University of Kalyani, West Bengal, India.
Robyn Bateman Driskell, Ph.D. is Associate Professor of Sociology at Baylor University, Texas.
Table of Contents
| Section Title | Page | Action | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Front Matter\r | 1 | ||
| Half Title\r | 1 | ||
| Also by Anthem Press\r | 2 | ||
| Title\r | 3 | ||
| Copyright \r | 4 | ||
| Dedication \r | 5 | ||
| Contents\r | 7 | ||
| Preface and Acknowledgement \r | 9 | ||
| Contributors\r | 10 | ||
| List of Abbreviations \r | 11 | ||
| Main Body\r | 13 | ||
| Introduction, by Samir Dasgupta and Robyn Driskell\r | 13 | ||
| Applied Perspective of Historical Sociology \r | 18 | ||
| Knowledge Sociology - A Key to Applied Sociology \r | 22 | ||
| Applied Altruism: Emancipation of Humanity \r | 24 | ||
| Applied Senses of Reality Searching \r | 26 | ||
| Historicity of Applied Sociology \r | 32 | ||
| Reassessing Applied Sociology \r | 34 | ||
| References\r | 37 | ||
| 1. Re-Orient World History, Social Theory and the Nineteenth Century, by Andre Gunder Frank \r | 39 | ||
| 1.I. How Western Perceptions of the East Changed\r | 39 | ||
| 1.II. Some Neccessary But Still Insufficint Critical Beginnings\r | 45 | ||
| 1.III. A Holistic Global Alternative \r | 51 | ||
| References\r | 86 | ||
| 2. The Unique Complexity of Social Pheonmena and the Uses of Social Science Knowledge, by Nico Stehr and Reiner Grundmann\r | 91 | ||
| 2.1 Classical Sociology\r | 92 | ||
| 2.2 Social Phenomena are Uniquely Complex\r | 93 | ||
| 2.3 The Discovery of the Complexity of Social Life\r | 94 | ||
| 2.4 One-Dimensionality \r | 95 | ||
| 2.5 The Professional Function of Complexity \r | 96 | ||
| 2.6 The Apparent Ubiquity of Complexity \r | 98 | ||
| 2.7 The Fragile Consensus\r | 99 | ||
| 2.8 Keynes's Theory as an Exemplary Case\r | 100 | ||
| 2.9 The Constituents of Practical Knowledge \r | 102 | ||
| 2.10 Lessons \r | 106 | ||
| References \r | 107 | ||
| 3. Unlimited Love, Compassion and Forgiveness: Acts of Moral Exemplars, by Samuel P Oliner \r | 111 | ||
| 3.1 Basic Concepts\r | 112 | ||
| 3.2 Overview of a Moral Personality\r | 113 | ||
| 3.3 Attributes of Moral Exemplars\r | 115 | ||
| 3.4 The Language of Apology/Forgiveness\r | 116 | ||
| 3.5 The Psychology of Forgiveness/Forgiveness and Health \r | 117 | ||
| 3.6 Forgiveness is a Process\r | 118 | ||
| 3.7 Forgiving in Theory and Practise\r | 119 | ||
| 3.8 Religiosity and Spirituality\r | 120 | ||
| 3.9 Social Responsibility \r | 121 | ||
| 3.10 Identity and Moral Goals\r | 122 | ||
| 3.11 Self-Esteem \r | 122 | ||
| 3.12 Learned Caring Norms\r | 123 | ||
| 3.13 Commonality \r | 124 | ||
| 3.14 Empathy \r | 125 | ||
| 3.15 Efficacy \r | 126 | ||
| 3.16 Apology and Forgiveness\r | 126 | ||
| 3.17 The Sample Description \r | 127 | ||
| 3.18 Conclusion \r | 130 | ||
| References\r | 133 | ||
| 4. Theoretical Applications, by Rosalind A Sydie\r | 137 | ||
| 4.1 Sociology as Science - Theoretical or Applied?\r | 139 | ||
| 4.2 Conclusion \r | 144 | ||
| References\r | 144 | ||
| 5. Applied Sociology's Need to Rethink the Tradition: Sociological Theorizing in a Global Framework, by Peter Kivisto \r | 147 | ||
| 5.1 The Need to Theorize Globally\r | 148 | ||
| 5.2 The Global Economy \r | 153 | ||
| 5.3 Globalization and Democracy \r | 156 | ||
| 5.4 An Emerging Global Culture\r | 161 | ||
| 5.5 The Lasting Impact of the Sociological Tradition \r | 164 | ||
| References\r | 165 | ||
| 6. Social Analysis and Social Action, by Amitai Etzioni\r | 169 | ||
| 6.1 Analysis: Substance and Problems\r | 170 | ||
| 6.2 Practise: Needs and Roles\r | 173 | ||
| References\r | 176 | ||
| 7. The Applied Sociologist as Craftsman, by David J Hartmann and Subhash R Sonnad\r | 177 | ||
| 7.1 The Craftsman as Protagonist \r | 177 | ||
| 7.2 Mills' 'On Intellectual Craftsmanship'\r | 178 | ||
| 7.3 Roles of Applied Sociologists \r | 183 | ||
| 7.4 Settings and Areas of Applied Sociology \r | 184 | ||
| 7.5 Correspondence with the Ideal Type of a Craftsman \r | 185 | ||
| 7.6 Conclusion \r | 187 | ||
| References\r | 189 | ||
| 8. Applied Sociology: Its Problems and Prospects, by Samir Dasgupta\r | 191 | ||
| 8.1 Social Realities in Crisis\r | 191 | ||
| 8.2 The Dialect of Applied Sociology \r | 198 | ||
| 8.3 Applied Sociology in the Shrinking World \r | 205 | ||
| 8.4 Changed Views of Applied Sociology \r | 209 | ||
| 8.5 Theory and Practice: A Synthesis or Dichotomy?\r | 212 | ||
| 8.6 Applied Sociology: What Does it Sense?\r | 215 | ||
| 8.7 The Progenitors \r | 217 | ||
| 8.8 Status of Applied Sociology in India: A Brief Account \r | 222 | ||
| References \r | 231 | ||
| 9. Sociology and its Application in Society: Giving Sociology its 'Working' Meaning, by Joy Asongazoh Alemazung \r | 235 | ||
| 9.1 Sociology in Practice: Common Sense, Pure and Applied Sociology \r | 237 | ||
| 9.2 The Use of Sociology in Societies \r | 240 | ||
| 9.3 Practical Sociology - Society - Client Relationship \r | 241 | ||
| 9.4 Sociology's FAding 'importance' in not Fading Value \r | 244 | ||
| 9.5 Challenges and Conclusion \r | 245 | ||
| References\r | 247 | ||
| 10. The Evolution of Sociology: Back to Its Applied Future, by Tilman Rodabough and Elizabeth Embry \r | 249 | ||
| 10.1 Moving Applied Sociology into the Academy\r | 252 | ||
| 10.2 Consulting \r | 252 | ||
| 10.3 Finding Research Opportunities \r | 253 | ||
| 10.4 Financial Support\r | 253 | ||
| 10.5 Administrative Support\r | 254 | ||
| 10.6 Integrating Sociological Practice into an Academic Setting \r | 254 | ||
| 10.7 Protecting Client Privacy \r | 254 | ||
| 10.8 Meeting Client Time Demands\r | 255 | ||
| 10.9 Passing Institutional Review\r | 255 | ||
| 10.10 Meeting Academic and Student Needs\r | 255 | ||
| 10.11 Teaching Applied Courses with Minimal Faculty \r | 256 | ||
| 10.12 Integration of Students from Different Levels \r | 256 | ||
| 10.13 Conclusion: Outcomes for Evaluating the Programme\r | 257 | ||
| References \r | 259 | ||
| 11. Contemporary Corporate Crime: Theoretical Perspectives, Cases and Consequences, by Nelson Foster and Verghese Chirayath \r | 261 | ||
| 11.1 Adelphia Communications\r | 264 | ||
| 11.2 Enron\r | 265 | ||
| 11.3 MCI/WorldCom\r | 267 | ||
| 11.4 Halliburton \r | 269 | ||
| 11.5 Conclusions \r | 271 | ||
| References\r | 278 | ||
| End Matter\r | 281 | ||
| Index\r | 281 |