Search

The multiple problems that the planet is currently experiencing—climate crisis, conventional and unconventional wars, planetary disenchantment with political systems, growth of inequality, increase in all kinds of intersectional violence, destructuring of the political economy of morality, etc.—are not a favorable scenario for thinking about hope. This paper nevertheless offers a summary presentation of the sociology of hope, presenting some of its central sources and components as well as a proposed study agenda for the future. This article seeks to foster discussion of what could be the central axes of a sociology of hope. To achieve this purpose, the following argumentative strategy was chosen: (a) the "place" of hope is explored in some classics of sociology, (b) the central components of a sociological investigation of hope are synthesized, and (c) an agenda is presented as a summary for a future development of a sociology of hope. The article seeks to draw attention to the urgency of hope as an important element for the future of sociology and social sciences in the twenty-first century. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

I argue that the COVID-19 pandemic presents an opportunity for sociologists and other social scientists to focus their scholarship on this apparently new event, while applying theoretical and methodological traditions that were established during pre-pandemic times. I substantiate this argument by critically reviewing published sociological research on COVID-19, especially as it developed early on during the pandemic, in the light of the historical development and original ambitions of sociology and other social sciences. Evaluating these contributions, I make a case for the value of a collaborative notion of interdisciplinarity to analyze the multi-dimensional dynamics of the COVID-19 pandemic from the viewpoint of various disciplines. On the basis of sociological work on celebrity culture during the pandemic, I argue that this task can be accomplished without resorting to all too readily made judgments concerning the unprecedented nature of the pandemic. Studying the multiple dimensions of the pandemic, each of the social sciences can usefully contribute to interdisciplinary research by relying on the proven perspectives of their respective disciplinary orientations and specialty areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There has been a significant shift among antipoverty nonprofits toward what we call 'relational work,'which involves working with clients over time on life changes. Some scholars discuss this, often in negative terms, as part of a broader neoliberal trend. We argue that relational work is an important and unavoidable part of ongoing efforts against poverty and homelessness. We also discuss the broader theoretical context that make scholars suspicious of this kind of antipoverty work, and argue for a multifaceted approach topoverty that includes attention to relational work and the agency of clients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the continuing phenomenon of trust in climate stability. Such trust is mediated by specific social contexts and evolves in response to societal events, material constraints and scientific evidence and media representations. We consider the ways in which normalized understandings of climate are influenced by experiences with extreme weather events. Paradoxically perhaps, we argue that weather extremes are occasions that actually reinforce trust in the stability of climate. The ways in which extremes are dealt with and explained by society provides an important clue for the semantics of environmental representation generally and climate specifically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social scientists are not taking philanthropy seriously enough. New approaches to philanthropy such as venture philanthropy, philanthrocapitalism, strategic philanthropy, and effective altruism are creating what is often broadly termed 'the new philanthropy.' Living hands-on mega wealthy donors such as Bill Gates, Michael Bloomberg, and John Arnold have publicly committed their energies and wealth to transforming society through philanthropy. Some of these philanthropic endeavors, notably in K-12 education, are creating jurisdictional challenges to the public sector. Others are approaching transversal and transnational issues in ways that are difficult to do through government policies. This essay provides an overview of these issues and, drawing from the other essays in this symposium, makes the case that scholars should do more research on the social contexts and consequences of philanthropy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article features Lewis Coser who was born in Berlin, Germany on November 27, 1913 from a privileged Berlin family. Topics discussed include his capacity for cosmopolitan comparison, skilled aesthetic and sociological judgment, how he was a celebrated master in writing interesting and informative review of difficult books and his intellectual achievements especially as a sociologist of culture.

We take mild issue with some of the conclusions Gross draws from his research into the political commitments of academics, and we draw attention to other research that suggests there are epistemic costs associated with the political imbalance that Gross observes. We question whether incentives and controls currently existing within the social sciences are sufficient to counter these epistemic costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]