Die Universitäten, die Soziologie und der Staat am Ende des zwanzigsten Jahrhunderts.

The university and the discipline of sociology have suddenly regained public attention in a number of European societies. They appear exposed to political evaluations that may lead to loss of financial support and of political esteem. This article tries to analyze these current debates by looking at both the university and sociology as historical projects. Nineteenth-century university reforms, which led to the current status and structure of this institution, was linked to the building of the nation-states; twentieth-century sociology showed a commitment to social policy and solidarity. If these political projects have now exhausted their historical mission, as some may claim, the institution and the discourse that were linked to them will similarly decay. Against this background, the paper discusses three possible options for the future of the university and of sociology. One may attempt to revive the ideas of nation-state and social policy together with the university and sociology; one may throw any such substantive orientation off and try to live by established procedures; or one may envisage a radical renewal of both the institutional and the intellectual project. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]