5
Sociological Thought and the Struggle for a Better World
Sociological Thought and the Struggle for a Better World
Wednesday, 13 July 2016: 12:30-14:00
Location: Auditorium Maximum (Main Building)
Language: English
Around the turn of the 19th to the 20th century, Austria was a fertile breeding ground for innovation in social sciences, including economics and wider realms of science and culture. Based on this tradition the plenary will address two key topics: One is to determine/follow/explore traces from then to contemporary sociological thought on socio-economic development and societal challenges of the 21st century. The other is to highlight the potential of sociology in networks of transformative science, citizen science, participatory design and co-creation of knowledge in change-making social movements. The current concept of social innovation – evoked by ongoing shifts in societies, yet also driving change – provides opportunities for sociology to guide varieties of innovations in the public, private and third (civil society) sectors, advancing prospects for a better world. Just as economics became essential for the classic notion of innovation in the corporate sector, sociology may attain a more effective role in society as a whole and may withstand the ‘imperialism of economics’ (Granovetter).
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