‘HOW RELEVANT IS SOCIOLOGICAL THEORY, IN PARTICULAR, CLASSICAL THEORY, TO CONTEMPORARY SOCIOLOGY?’

 

Date: Saturday March 19^th 2011.

Location: Hugh Fraser Seminar Room, Wolfson Medical Building, University Avenue, University of Glasgow G12 8QQ.

 

Introduction to Conference:

 

If physics students are not given a twelve week course on Newton’s Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica, why are students of the social sciences taught with such a strong emphasis on the ‘Founding Fathers’ of their discipline?

 

Have the social sciences grown beyond the theoretical framework set out by those such as Marx, Weber, Durkheim and Simmel, or do the principles set out by their paradigm forming works still have relevance to research conducted by academics in the present day?

 

This conference has been organised with the motive of addressing questions concerning the relevance of the classical social theory canon. From as to whether we can still learn anything from a Marxist analysis, to what makes a work worthy of acceptance into the ‘classical canon’, this conference will explore numerous perspectives, from both leading academics and students who are conducting research relevant to this topic, in hope of engaging with and suitably addressing the debate as to whether classical social theory is still relevant today.

Timetable for BSA Regional Postgraduate Day in Glasgow – Subject to change.

 

9:00-9:30	Registration and Refreshments.
9:30-10:15	Reformulating the Sociological Tradition: Neglected Classics and New Interpretations of the "Old" Classics. Keynote Speaker Distinguished Emeritus Professor Roland Robertson –  University of Pittsburgh, University of Aberdeen ·         Arguing that it is clear that our discipline is in peril if we persist in reproducing simplistic interpretations or versions of Marx, Durkheim, Simmel and Max Weber, it is proposed that we look beyond these central academics to otherwise somewhat marginalised figures in our discipline. Since we now live in an increasingly global era, much different in many ways from the late-nineteenth and early-twentieth centuries, the study of the history of sociology must be reformulated. Different aspects of the work of the classical figures, different figures of the classical period and newer figures must come into the sociological pantheon. We are presently living in the shadow of social scientists whose work is thought of as referring to our time, when it actually refers to their time.
10:15-11:15	Discussion Session . Chair: TBC On the contributions of contemporary and less prevalent sociologists working outside the dominant paradigms.
11:15-11:30	Refreshment Break.
11:30-11:50	What Does Language Taste Like? Claire Nance – University of Glasgow Postgraduate ·         Examining how Bourdieu's framework of taste may help shed light on attitudes and ideologies surrounding language.
11:50-12:10	Tough on Criminology’s ‘Neophiles’. Yarin Eski – University of Glasgow Postgraduate ·         Addressing Classical (sociological) thought in the late-modern era of Criminological research.
12:10-13:00	Free Buffet Lunch.
13:00-13:30	Dancing with Ghosts: Why the Sociological Classics Still Matter. Emeritus Professor John Eldridge – University of Glasgow ·       It has been said that a science which hesitates to forget its founders is lost. It has been claimed that the reason contemporary sociologists are able to do what they do is because they are standing on the shoulders of giants. The second position will be argued for. In doing so the speaker wishes to argue for the value of a disciplinary grounding in order that we may bring something of value to the interdisciplinary table. It will also be argued that it is through a grounding in the classic tradition that we are able to improvise, innovate and move in fresh directions in contemporary work. The tradition is not a straitjacket but a springboard.
13:30-14:30	Discussion Session . Chair: TBC The value of classical sociological theory to interdisciplinary work.
14:30-14:45	Refreshments.
14:45-15:05	Bourdieu and Young People's Tenancy Sustainment. Alasdair Stewart – University of Stirling Postgraduate ·         Speaking on the relevance of Bourdieu for developing the 'new homelessness orthodoxy' as a means of understanding tenancy sustainment.
15:05-15:25	Is Marxist Analysis of Society still relevant to Feminism? Mauro di Lullo – University of Glasgow Postgraduate ·       Examining if and how a Marxist critique of law and more broadly of society, could still be relevant for feminist movements and their struggles for equality.
15:25-15:55	Exploring Sociology without the ‘ism’s’. Dr. Kay Adamson – Glasgow Caledonian University ·      The paper aims to explore how sociologists faced with new social situations have sought to make sense of those with the tools of the classical sociologists. Inspiration was gained from Charles Lemert’s (2nd ed. 2004[1995]) Sociology After the Crisis, where using a series of metaphors, Lemert argues that some of the questions that the classical sociologists were trying to answer may be more relevant today than they were at the time they were originally written about.  Dr. Adamson ended up with a plan that began with Lemert and in particular his argument that to make a classical sociology, it was necessary to exclude some sociologists, as well as focus on others. This paper aims to outline this framework and summarize the main aspects of such an experiment
15:55-16:10	Refreshment Break .
16:10-17:10	Discussion Session Chaired by Dr. Alex Law – University of Abertay, Dundee, and postgraduate contributors. How should the discipline of sociology seek to learn from its’ past? Should we celebrate classical social theory or reject it outright?
17:10-17:30	Close and Reception.
17:30 Onwards	All attendees are invited for informal drinks.

 

Conference content:

 

As a means of successfully exploring and addressing our decided topic we have enlisted high profile academics and current postgraduate students. In doing so we hope to not only explore the work and perspectives of those within our discipline with long standing track records, but will be looking to current postgraduate students as the academics of tomorrow to contribute fully and in a manner which would see the held in equal esteem to our more senior contributors.

 

Journal Publication:

 

We are currently considering the publication of a conference paper as part of a special edition in 'e-Sharp' owned by and run entirely by postgraduate students at the University of Glasgow.

 

Lunch and social event:

 

A buffet lunch and non alcoholic drinks will be provided to all as part of registration. All attendees will be invited to a social and networking event in the evening after the conference.

 

Costs:

 

BSA members - FREE

Non members - £25

Event limited to an audience of 30.

 

Anyone interested in attending should book online at - http://bsas.esithosting.co.uk/public/event/events.aspx

 

Contacts:

 

For more information please contact us by email at:

 

Janine Ballantyne – 1006489b@student.gla.ac.uk

 

Joshua Stapp – 1008587s@student.gla.ac.uk

 

Or if preferred, you can write to us at:

 

The School of Social and Political Sciences,

University of Glasgow,

Adam Smith Building,

40 Bute Gardens,

Glasgow

G12 8RT

 

Thanks:

 

With thanks to Professor Bridget Fowler (University of Glasgow), Dr Matthew Waites (University of Glasgow) and Dr Emmanuelle Tulle (Glasgow Caledonian University) for their input, ideas and assistance towards this event.

 

RESEARCHING INEQUALITY: A THEORY FOR EVERYTHING?

 

Friday 6 May 2011

Faculty of Health and Social Care, the Open University, Milton Keynes

 

Key Note Speakers

Professor Mary Maynard (University of York)    Dr Val Gillies (London Southbank University)

 

We are pleased to announce this one day conference on the theory and practice of researching inequality, sponsored by the British Sociological Association as part of a series of events for postgraduate students. This event will be of interest to postgraduate researchers working in the broad field of social inequality.

The conference intends to create a forum for exploring the current state of sociological theories and methodologies on inequality and to consider their application in research practices. As well as two keynote speakers, there will be an opportunity for postgraduate students to present their work and share their experiences of applying sociological theories of inequality in their empirical research.

The organisers invite postgraduate students to submit abstracts of a maximum of 300 words for 20 minute presentations that address the following themes and questions.

The state of sociological inquiry into inequality:

·         What are the current trends and future directions in sociological theories on inequality?

·         How can we theorise the intersection between different socio-economic inequalities?

·         Is it useful to theorise an overarching theory of ‘inequality’ or do we risk creating a ‘theory of everything’ that lacks specific and contextual relevance?  

Putting theory into research practice

·         How can theories of inequality be applied at each stage of the research process? (i.e. research design, fieldwork practices, data analysis, dissemention of findings)

·         How can methodological developments provide innovative ways for better researching and understanding inequality?

·         How can sociological theories help researchers address the issues of power and ethics arising from researching social groups affected by inequalities?

The organisers intend for this to be an interdisciplinary conference and would like to hear from postgraduate researchers working on various aspects of inequality (for example disability, gender, ‘race’ and ethnicity, income, health and social care provision, etc.) and from those using qualitative and/ or quantitative paradigms.

Deadline for submission of abstracts is Monday 28th February 2011.  

Abstracts should be submitted to Ester Mcgeeney (e.m.mcgeeney@open.ac.uk) and general enquiries addressed to Godfred Boahen (g.f.boahen@open.ac.uk). Successful abstract authors will be informed by Monday 7 March 2011. Event organisers will meet the transportation cost of all students presenting at the conference.

This event will be free to attend for all BSA members, non-BSA members will be charged £10. We will send out a separate call for attendees in the near future.