Handbook of Public Sociology

Vincent Jeffries

doi:10.5771/9780742566484

Summary

Public sociology—an approach to sociology that aims to communicate with and actively engage wider audiences—has been one of the most widely discussed topics in the discipline in recent years. The Handbook of Public Sociology presents a comprehensive look at every facet of public sociology in theory and practice. It pays particular attention to how public sociology can complement more traditional types of sociological practice to advance both the analytical power of the discipline and its ability to benefit society. The volume features contributions from a stellar list of authors, including several past presidents of the American Sociological Association such as Michael Burawoy, a leading proponent of public sociology.

The first two sections of the Handbook of Public Sociology look at public sociology in relation to the other three types of practice—professional, policy, and critical—with an emphasis on integrating the four types into a holistic model of theory and practice. Subsequent sections focus on issues like teaching public sociology at various levels, case studies in the application of public sociology, and the role of public sociology in special fields in the discipline. The concluding chapter by Michael Burawoy, a past president of the American Sociological Association and a leading proponent of public sociology, addresses current debates surrounding public sociology and presents a constructive vision for the future that embraces and improves upon all four types of sociology.

The Handbook of Public Sociology with its examination not only of public sociology but also of how it can enhance and complement other types of practice, transcends differences in the field and will appeal to a wide range of academics, students, and practitioners.

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Bibliographic data

Copyright year: 2009
ISBN-Print: 978-0-7425-6646-0
ISBN-Online: 978-0-7425-6648-4
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield, Lanham
Language: English
Pages: 496
Product type: Edited Book

1. Contents No access
Chapter 01. Redefining the Nature and Future of Sociology: Toward a Holistic Sociology No access Pages 1 - 24
1. Chapter 02. Burawoy’s Holistic Sociology and Sorokin’s “Integralism”: A Conversation of Ideas No access
2. Chapter 03. Rethinking Burawoy’s Public Sociology: A Post-Empiricist Reconstruction No access
3. Chapter 04. Social Justice and Critical Public Sociology No access
4. Chapter 05. Public Sociology and the Future: The Possible, the Probable, and the Preferable No access
5. Chapter 06. The Scientific System of Public Sociology: The Exemplar of Pitirim A. Sorokin’s Social Thought No access
1. Chapter 07. A Sociology for Public Sociology: Some Needed Disciplinary Changes for Creating Public Sociology No access
2. Chapter 08. Some Suggested Standards for Distinguishing between Good and Bad Public Sociology No access
3. Chapter 09. On Writing Public Sociology: Accountability through Accessibility, Dialogue, and Relevance No access
4. Chapter 10. Recapturing the Sociological Imagination: The Challenge for Public Sociology No access
1. Chapter 11. Presenting Sociology’s Four “Faces”: Problems and Prospects for the High School Course No access
2. Chapter 12. Teaching and Public Sociology No access
1. Chapter 13. From Data to Drama: Returning Research to Convicted Survivors No access
2. Chapter 14. Integrating the Four Sociologies: The “Baigou Project” in China No access
3. Chapter 15. Becoming Public Sociology: Indigenous Nations, Dialogue, and Change No access
4. Chapter 16. Talking about Racial Disparities in Imprisonment: A Reflection on Experiences in Wisconsin No access
5. Chapter 17. Public Membership on Medical Licensing Boards: An Integrated Public and Professional Project No access
6. Chapter 18. Counting the Deaths in Darfur: Pitfalls on the Pathway to a Public Sociology No access
1. Chapter 19. Engaged Social Movement Scholarship No access
2. Chapter 20. Public Sociology and Universal Human Rights No access
3. Chapter 21. Altruism, Apology, Forgiveness, and Reconciliation as Public Sociology No access
4. Chapter 22. A Public Sociology for a Global Age: Recovering the Political No access
5. Chapter 23. Global Altruism: Some Considerations No access
6. Chapter 24. Futures in the Making: Sociological Practice and Challenge No access
1. Chapter 25. The Public Sociology Wars No access
Index No access Pages 475 - 490
About the Contributors No access Pages 491 - 496