Prilutskaya
Anastasiya, student
DonNUET (Donetsk)
Contemporary
issues in sociology at a global level
The purpose this work: to notify current
problems in sociology at a global level.
On the 11th -17th of July 2010, in Göteborg, XVII Congress of the International Sociological
Association (ISA) “Sociology in motion” was held. It became a large-scale event due to
the global character of discussed problems and that fact that most world
regions and national sociologic associations were represented.
In his opening speech the ISA
President Michel Viverka pointed out some aspects of sociology development in a
current stage, that became a main idea of overall topic of the congress
“Sociology in motion”. In his opinion: it is a movement in several directions. First
of all, the "west" has ceased to be an intellectual hegemony of
Sociology: noticeably increased number of professional social scientists from
different parts of the world, and in this point of view sociology is in a
course if globalization. Second, the subject Sociology studies become global
problems along with the local ones, regional and national social problems. Thirdly, direction of sociological researches varies
from examination of the most general problems of society to exclusively
intimate aspects of person’s life in society. Fourth, sociology is searching for a
new basis of the research and also looking for a new ways of cooperation with
other disciplines and knowledge fields. Relevant specifics of world sociology
development have got reflected in the thematic diversity of the Congress, and also
in presentation of sociology development specific and sociological researches
in different countries.
Congress Programme identified five
main fields, which, as Hans Joas pointed out in his opening speech to
participants, concentrated intellectual challenges of modern sociology
development.
The
first wave of issues that were taking an important place in the central reports
of plenary sessions, were related to climate change and environmental risks.
Ulrich Beck proposed to change the principles of
sociological knowledge creation from society perception within the national
state to methodological cosmopolitanism and cosmopolitan sociology. In its
report, Saskia Sassen has analyzed the role of territory, authority and rights
on a global level. John Urry and Raymond Murphy reviewed the problem overconsumption
and threats of large-scale overtaking development.
The second important thematic areas of social debate was
regarded to the possible future scenarios. Craig Calhoun and Manuel Castells
reports and Erik Olin Wright and John Urry performances were dedicated to the frames regarding theory approach concerning variety of
alternative ways of society development in global context under conditions of
environmental challenge .
Topic about global financial crisis and possibilities
of the sociological explanation of its causes and consequences was reviewed by the
ISA former presidents Margaret Archer, Alberto Martinelli, Peter Sztompka, Alan
Turing.
Solving global problems lies in the interdisciplinary
approach to the problem. Vladimir Vernadsky was the first who suggested this
method. The main point of this approach is in a combination of
philosophical, political, natural, technical and economic knowledge with the
relatively to spheres of human activity. Scientist believed that person in the modern society
has to think planetary, based on this new approach there is the thesis
regarding men equality.
But to achieve this state, it is necessary that all
countries have changed the approach to their foreign policy, what means,
abandon the policy of conflict and confrontation and went to global
cooperation, based on the recognition of the priority of general civilization
values.
Concerning
solution or non-solution of global problems, no doubt that it will make
a huge impact on trends in society future development.
Literature:
1. Vestnik Moscow University. Dobrenkov. "Value orientations
modern sociology" .- p. 109-110. - 2009.
2. Sociology: theory, methods, marketing,
¹ 4. Scientific life. Svetlana Babenko. "Sociology
and sociologists in the global dimension. - p.196-206.- 2010.
3.Global problems of the modern world.- 2010.http://pena.do.am//publ/
sociologija/sociologija/globalnye_problemy_soavremennogo_mira/3-1-0-56