Current Sociology current issue

Editorial: Looking for the next editor(s) of Current Sociology

Smith, D. — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 04:14:42 PST

The Shift of Environmental Debates in Russia

Yanitsky, O. N. — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 04:14:42 PST

This article presents the results of long-term research aimed at identifying the major trends in environmental debates conditioned by Russian reforms and by the changing geopolitical situation of the Russian nation-state. The main topics of the article are changes in the very subject of these debates, the actors involved, the political opportunity structure of the debates and the character of the languages used by their participants. Four major shifts have been identified and analysed: first, from long-term to short-term issues; second, from nationwide to ‘insular’ debates conditioned by the division of Russians into those who live in time and in space; third, from value-centred to economically oriented; and fourth, from humanistic to social-technological. Epistemologically, these shifts indicate a process of transition from instructive to discursive production of scientific knowledge that should take into account local knowledge; in terms of sociology of social knowledge, this means a change in the relationships between science and publics that have acquired a right to speak; in cultural terms, it marks a shift from scientific to cultural rationality; and in institutional and organizational terms, it means a shift from debates in big national public arenas to issue-centred bargaining in which official and citizen experts compete.

Who's Afraid of Critical Social Science?

Sayer, A. — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 04:14:42 PST

The article offers an assessment of rationales for critical social science (CSS), noting that over the last three decades these have become increasingly cautious and timid, so that, for example, critique is reduced to uncovering hidden presuppositions and deepening reflexivity. First, the article outlines a simple conception of CSS based on the standpoint of the reduction of illusion, distinguishes this from scepticism and partisanship, and notes the importance of the denaturalization of social forms, Second, it assesses the critical standpoint of freedom. Third, the article argues that a stronger standpoint of the critique of avoidable suffering is needed and already implicit in limited form in existing CSS. Fourth, the article explores and counters some of the key reasons for the retreat of critique, and concludes.

A Study of the Social Characteristics of Artists

Ravadrad, A. — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 04:14:42 PST

This article examines the social characteristics of artists. The idea is that artists share some common characteristics that may have an effect on their becoming an artist. The process of acquiring the identification of artist is a multidimensional one, which is related to creativity, alongside many other factors that are inherently social. Here, emphasis is on the second kind of factors, the social ones. In order to show the importance of such factors, data from the author’s previous research are presented. The theoretical field of study is sociology of art with an emphasis on Janet Wolff’s ideas. The main hypothesis is that creativity and genius are preconditions for a person to become an artist, but are not sufficient in themselves. The individual’s emergence as artist also relies on their social conditions. If certain social conditions are right, then an individual may be able to pursue artistic activities and become known as an artist.

Job Satisfaction and/or Job Stress: The Psychological Consequences of Working in 'High Performance Work Organizations'

Kashefi, M. — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 04:14:42 PST

The rapid diffusion of high performance work organizations (HPWO) has attracted the attention of many scholars in sociology and psychology over the last three decades. One area in which ongoing debates and evidence are inconclusive is the linkage between HPWO and the ‘psychological functioning’ of employees, specifically the issues of job satisfaction and job stress. This study examines, and thereby extends our understanding of, associations between workplace restructuring — adopting an ‘internalization strategy’ within HPWO — with job satisfaction and job stress. The findings reveal that the implementation of an internalization strategy has raised job satisfaction both directly and indirectly, through affecting job characteristics — while indirectly increasing job stress as well. The latter occurred because an internalization strategy speeds up work pace, develops conflicting demands and intensifies conflicts between work and family. The article concludes with a short discussion on the theoretical significance of the findings and their policy implications for human resource management.

The Author and Authorship in the Internet Society: New Perspectives for Scientific Communication

Longo, M., Magnolo, S. — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 04:14:42 PST

The Internet is the most recent and relevant innovation in the field of media communication, as well as the medium that reproduces most of the characteristics of global society. In trying to describe contemporary society, we cannot neglect the social implication of the web. Our assumption is that the evolution of the Internet has led to problematic effects on the relevance of concepts such as individuality, author, authorship and copyright, as commonly used up till now. The first part of the article focuses on individuality as a means to describe individual actors and social structures in the first modernity, paying particular attention to the idea of the author as an individual in the field of intellectual products. New communication forms online make the connection between the individuality of the author and the text weaker and less recognizable. The second part develops the theme of scientific knowledge in contemporary society, with regard to scholarly authorship. The Internet has produced deep transformations in scholarly publications. Technical and structural characteristics of the Internet suggest possibilities for a reorganization of the scientific system towards the replacement of authorship and reputation with innovative mechanisms of information processing and selection.

National Identity, Anomie and Mental Health in Latin America

Parales Quenza, C. J. — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 04:14:42 PST

This article suggests links between the construction of national identities in Latin America, anomie and mental health. Several issues in the process of national identification, including ambivalent independence movements, segregation and the emulation of Spanish social practices, have prevented the inclusion of all segments of the population into collective political projects. Due to exclusion and inequality, there is a persistent condition of anomie, in which social rules become ineffective to regulate the social behaviour of individuals. Dependency and in-group derogation are also counted among the effects of the dysfunctional processes of national identification. Given the influence of social determinants on the health of the population, anomie is considered an important cause of violence and psychosocial problems. The links between anomie and mental health call for a wider perspective to promote mental health and prevent violence and illness. Social participation, equity and citizenship are core themes within this broader perspective.

Networks as Culturally Constituted Processes: A Comparison of Relational Sociology and Actor-network Theory

Mutzel, S. — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 04:14:42 PST

This article connects two current, typically separate strands in network thinking that treat ‘culture’ and ‘structure’ as intermingled rather than as autonomous entities of a duality. It reviews and compares two different traditions, the ‘cultural turn’ in social network analysis and actor-network theory, which both view networks as culturally constituted processes. The article argues that the two approaches share many conceptual similarities, although important differences remain. They differ on what kinds of actors ascribe meaning to others. Furthermore, the article argues that some conceptual similarities have turned into methodological points of convergence in data analysis. The article suggests economic sociology as one possible area of research where the two approaches productively connect.

Qualifying Social Influence on Fertility Intentions: Composition, Structure and Meaning of Fertility-relevant Social Networks in Western Germany

Keim, S., Klarner, A., Bernardi, L. — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 04:14:42 PST

Although the relevance of social interactions or social networks for fertility research has been increasingly acknowledged in recent years, little is known about the channels and mechanisms of social influences on individuals’ fertility decision-making. Drawing on problem-centred interviews and network data collected among young adults in western Germany, the authors show that qualitative methods broaden our understanding of social and contextual influences on couples’ fertility intentions, by exploring the phenomenon, taking subjective perceptions into account, analysing interactions within networks as well as the dynamics of networks. Qualitative methods allow for the collection and analysis of rich retrospective information on network dynamics in relation to life course events. This can also be helpful both to complement the still rare longitudinal data on social networks and to develop parsimonious and efficient survey instruments to collect such information in a standardized way.

The Association of Sociologists of Kazakhstan: National Developments and Cooperation with the ISA

Konovalov, S., Taizhanov, A. — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 04:14:42 PST

Resumes/Resumenes

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 04:14:42 PST

Thank You

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 04:14:42 PST