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Sociology of the Future: Braiding Theory-Making and Policy/ Practice Change

Monday, 11 July 2016: 16:00-17:30
Location: Seminarsaal 10 (Juridicum)
RC10 Participation, Organizational Democracy and Self-Management (host committee)

Language: English

Social theory and applied sociological research are frequently viewed as specialized and separate sub-fields of sociological discipline. Applied sociological research serves as a foundation for evidence-based practice change across many fields like management, public administration, social work, education, and healthcare, to name just a few essential areas. Looking forward, is making sociological theory and conducting applied research going to increasingly be two separate “camps” inside sociology, or will they come together and if so, how and under what circumstances?
This question is extremely relevant both from the point of view of sociology of knowledge and the future of sociology itself, and from the point of view of research-informed practice. As societies strive and struggle towards better, more peaceful, more democratic, and more participatory futures, applied sociological research may illuminate the way, but simultaneously theory is crucial for making sense of changes. But is applied research mostly or exclusively a user of sociological theory – or is it also a creator of new theory to better explain the contemporary state of the world? 
This roundtable session invites papers that explore in a national or comparative perspective the specific cases of “braiding” and coming together of theory-making and policy and practice change and/or of divergence of theoretical and applied sociological research, in various areas including but not limited to:

  • Public Sociology, 
  • the World Social Forum, 
  • labor and social movements and trade unions, 
  • patient-centered healthcare, 
  • gender, 
  • social entrepreneurship, 
  • educational democracy, 
  • and citizens’ participation in governance.


(For extended description and discussion please go tohttp://isarc10internetforum.wikispaces.com/ISA+2016).

Session Organizers:
Julia ROZANOVA, Yale University, USA and Eleni NINA-PAZARZI, University of Piraeus, Greece
Chair:
Julia ROZANOVA, Yale University, USA

Roundtables:

    Critical Reflections on Gender and the Future of Democracy
    Diversities in theory making and policies for the future
See more of: RC10 Participation, Organizational Democracy and Self-Management
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