Theories and Methods in Undertaking Histories of Sociology

This session invites contributions on the theoretical and methodological bases of researching into the history of sociology. Recent developments in the broader academic landscape – such as the emergence of global history, entangled histories, connected sociologies, cosmopolitan thought zones, and a multiplicity of academic activities around circulation of social science knowledge with a strong focus on its actors and its materiality – lead to a renewal of how the history of a discipline is imagined and written. A large variety of materials is now available electronically, which changes the working habits of the historian. At the same time, more conventional methods of the craft remain on the agenda and also require regular exchange within the scholarly community. We particularly invite contributions that combine theoretical or methodological reflections with empirical work.