Shtompka sociology of social change. Abstract: Shtompka P

Sociology of Peter Sztompka

Piotr Sztompka was born in Warsaw (Poland) in 1944. However, since his student years, his creative life has been invariably connected with Krakow - Jagiellonian University, where he has headed the department of theoretical sociology since 1975. P. Sztompka's outstanding contribution to the development of international sociology was confirmed at the XV World Sociological Congress in Brisbane (Australia) in 2002, which elected the Polish sociologist as president of the International Sociological Association.

Sztomka's interest in visual sociology arose relatively recently. He practiced photography as a hobby for 40 years. And always, when I visited other countries, I took a lot of photographs, since it is natural that when someone travels abroad, he is interested in exotic phenomena that are different from what he has in his country, and he strives to take photographs. This is a typical situation when a person is interested in capturing and preserving in memory his impressions and experiences of being in another country. Thus, thanks to his academic trips to conferences, congresses, symposia, and meetings, Sztomka collected a large collection of photographs.

In this section of the book it is written that in the spring of 2006, Professor Petr Sztompka conducted a master class on visual sociology for undergraduate and graduate students of the Faculty of Sociology of the Higher School of Economics (Moscow). P. Sztompka showed some of his photographs, which he analyzed, but they were not published in the book. A brief description of each of them is given so that one can understand the focus of his research interests when analyzing photographic material.

The book is structured as an interview with the author, he talks about his interest in photographs, methods of interpreting photography, how society has changed over time, how it was studied through photography. One way is to simply walk and observe society, recording what you see on camera. The camera helps focus, helps us decide which things are important and which are unimportant, because the camera always frames the part of the world where our gaze is directed. And such formation allows us to separate the more important from the less significant, cutting it out from the overall picture, which already brings sociological meaning. Naturally, this is important for simply recording what is seen, but also for subsequent comparison and, moreover, for searching for patterns, i.e., for detecting certain regularities in social life. For example, when you compare images (photos) of different periods of the existence of the same or similar social reality, the Author talks in detail about why he began to engage in such a hobby, what inspired him to take it up, and how he was then able to interest students in this matter.

In my own experience, if I walk with a camera, I look differently than when I walk without a camera. When I walk with a camera, I focus, try to find something interesting. It's like you're on a hunt or on an expedition. Usually, when I'm just walking down the street, I don't notice individual things, I just notice the difference between “look” and “see”: looking means registering impressions, looking means focused. You strive to find answers to the questions that you yourself have posed.

The camera helps focus, helps to choose which objects are important and which are insignificant, since the camera always gives a frame (frame) to the part of the world where our gaze is directed. And such formation allows us to separate the more important from the less significant, cutting it out from the overall picture, which already brings sociological meaning. Naturally, this is important for simply recording what is seen, but also for subsequent comparison and, moreover, for searching for patterns, i.e., for detecting certain regularities of social life. After this, the author talks about the types of photography, how and why people take photographs in this particular way, and accordingly draws all sorts of conclusions.

Shtomka, as expected in his story, began with an introduction, continued with the main points - this is a story about the types of photography and at the end made conclusions.

So, modern society is becoming more and more “visible” (visually rich). If this is true, then this means that we should pay more attention to such a simple method of sociological research as observation.

Observation was a very important method among early sociologists and, of course, among social anthropologists who studied exotic societies in remote regions, as well as among ethnographers. I consider this quote to be the main thesis of the author, because later in his book the author describes all kinds of photography and explains why people choose certain places to take pictures.

It is very clear and understandable to the reader what the author wanted to convey to us, because he tells in a language accessible to everyone why photographs become valuable in our lives and how a person interprets them for himself. The author proves his thesis by justifying the photographs that people take and puts forward possible options using the example of eleven photographs, each of which he describes in detail.

For example: two young people at the fountain.

This is a very nice and understandable type of interaction between young people. The action takes place in New York, they are just sitting near the fountain. Or an example with young guys standing next to a motorcycle.

This motorcycle must belong to these young men from Boston. They are very proud of their Harley. The author had the opportunity to talk to them before taking the photograph. They are proud of it as a symbol that makes them feel superior to others.

I really liked this topic because it is written in accessible language, there are no scientific terms, the author’s logic is clearly visible, the sequence of thoughts is not disturbed, it is also interesting to read, because the topic is familiar to me and relevant for our time.

international sociology shtompka

The work under review is devoted to the most important problems of social philosophy. It contains ideas relevant to understanding and explaining contemporary transformations. The author defined the purpose of his research as follows: “... consideration of the basic means of intellectual analysis, interpretation and understanding of social changes, especially at the macro-sociological or historical level” (pp. 12-13).

First of all, we note the author’s constructive position in relation to the classical heritage and modern concepts of social change. Creatively processing various theories, P. Sztompka identifies two directions existing in sociological science.

The first direction is traditional, coming from classical sociology (O. Comte, G. Spencer, T. Parsons, etc.). Within the framework of this direction, a “systemic model” of society has been developed, focusing on a sustainable moment in development. The existence of a certain stable state of society is assumed, which is fixed regardless of the movement of the latter. In this interpretation, social change refers to different states of the same system that arise sequentially over time.

The second direction that Sztompka points to has emerged relatively recently. Its supporters view society “not as a static, stable state, but as a process, not as a rigid quasi-object, but as a constantly ongoing, endless stream of events” (p. 27).

The author of the monograph, analyzing both directions, does not give absolute preference to any of the options under consideration. Noting the heuristic value of both approaches, he believes that the most fruitful approach in the study of social change is their combination, “for each highlights the enormous diversity of the dynamic phenomenon” (p. 31).

In our opinion, the section devoted to the problem of social progress, which is still discussed in social science, will be of particular interest to the reader. The author concisely presents the logic of the thoughts of past and present thinkers, skillfully highlighting the paradigms of various theoretical approaches to understanding the idea of ​​progress. Traditional views of progress, as a directed process, with the assumptions of finalism and fatalism inherent in this concept, are undergoing significant changes in our era, if not completely replacing the theory of development with the concept of crisis. The deep disappointment in the idea of ​​progress that has prevailed in the public consciousness today, Sztompka emphasizes, is a reaction to the social negatives of the time, which contrast so sharply with the idea of ​​progressive humanization of the conditions of human existence. However, “a crisis,” the author writes, “is a temporary phenomenon and leads to improvement or to disaster” (p. 59). Therefore, you should not elevate it to the category of chronic, universal without hope of resolution. One cannot but agree with the author’s opinion that “the idea of ​​progress is too important for human consciousness, too fundamental for mitigating existential tensions and uncertainty, to be abandoned for the sake of something else” (ibid.). Sztompka remains committed to the concept of progress, while recognizing the need for revision, new understanding from the perspective of the modern situation, the traditions of the new European classics. First of all, according to the scientist, the question of the content of the criterion of progress and its logical status requires clarification. Shtompka does not share the positions of those researchers who define the criteria of progress as something absolute and unchangeable. And in this, in our opinion, the author is right. Indeed, what we strive for changes, varies, only the desire itself is constant. “Consequently, the criterion of progress,” according to the scientist, “should not be sought outside, but rather within society itself” (p. 61).

Sztompka asks the question about the deontic status of progress: should we recognize it (progress) as necessary or as possible?

The ontological basis of progress also requires clarification: what is the driving force that gives birth to progress?

Modern concepts, the author notes, in particular the theory of morphogenetic structuring, create the basis for a fundamentally new interpretation of progress, where it is no longer understood as a final achievement, but as society’s potential ability for self-development, not as an absolute external standard, but as a dynamic, capable of change in the process of evolution, the relative quality of a particular process. This interpretation of the idea of ​​development is devoid of fatalism, since progress here is conceived only as a historical possibility, and not as an automatically realized process.

Of interest are Sztompka’s judgments regarding forecasts for the future of humanity, which, according to the researcher, is determined by the desires and capabilities of people to realize their ability to create. Various natural, structural and historical conditions, as well as many other factors that can impede the development of these abilities as the main source of progress, can lead to stagnation of society and even regression.

Analyzing the concept of sociological evolutionism, Sztompka notes that the idea of ​​evolution was initially introduced into sociological science from biology. Society is likened to an organism consisting of various elements united into more complex formations, within which there is a determining network of interrelations; the organism and society have structure.

Since both the organism and society are characterized by growth, this concept is crucial in understanding change. Being the basis of the sociological idea of ​​evolution, the concept of growth makes it possible to reveal the internal potential capabilities inherent in the object of study initially, the directed, irreversible nature of development.

Considering the concepts of the classics of evolutionism, Sztompka identifies a number of theoretical positions common to representatives of this direction. Among them, the author highlights: a single form, the logic of human history, uniting many random events; the object of change is all of humanity as a whole; the whole is described in organicist terms; changes in society are directional in nature and are understood as strictly linear. Differences within objects are explained by the unequal speed of historical movement in different parts of the world. These changes are generally recognized as a progressive movement of society (with the exception of the concept of F. Tönnies).

In a separate chapter, the author examines historical materialism. It should be emphasized that Sztompka’s analysis of Marx’s theory is free from vulgar political conjuncture and aims to show the scope and originality of Marx’s ideas.

The basic principles of historical materialism have a genetic unity with the theory of evolution. Historical development, according to Marx, has a progressive character and is accompanied by a constant improvement of society; history is a natural process that goes through certain stages, associated with a constant increase in complexity and differentiation. Sztompka notes that a distinctive feature of historical materialism in comparison with evolutionary theory is its connection with Hegelian dialectics. Marx adopted the idea of ​​dialectics, replacing the idealistic content of Hegel's theory with a materialist understanding of history. For Marx, history is not the self-disclosure and self-realization of the spirit, but only a sequence of changes in society.

Having examined the ideological heritage of modern theorists, Sztompka also expounds his view on the essence of social change in the theory of social formations he presented. Its basis is activity and historical sociology. Without analyzing this theory in detail, we note that it is original and, undoubtedly, enriches sociological thought with new conclusions and provisions. Its originality is manifested primarily in the synthetic approach to the study of social reality. The author examines such determinants of social life as ideological and motivating factors, the role of the individual in history, motivations for the activities of individuals, etc.

There are many interesting pages in P. Sztompka’s work that deserve attention, but what has been said is enough to make a general conclusion: this monograph shed new light on many problems not only in sociology, but also in social philosophy, and thereby made a certain contribution to social science.

Petr Sztompka

sociology

Analysis of modern society

Translation from Polish SM. Chervonnaya

ANALIZA SPOŁECZEŃSTWA

Moscow Logos 2005

UDC 316 (075.8) BBK 60.5

Shtompka P.

Ш 92 Sociology. Analysis of modern society: Trans. from Polish CM. Chervonnaya. - M.: Logos, 2005. - 664 p. + 32 s. color on

ISBN 5-98704-024-8

The prominent sociologist, president of the International Sociological Association, in his textbook, sets out a course in sociology based on the latest theoretical achievements and applied results in the development of problems of this scientific discipline. The modern interpretation of the subject and methods of sociology, as well as ways of practical use of sociological research data are presented. Various aspects of social life are considered: human activity, social groups and institutions, culture, stratification, social variability, modern trends in the development of society. The essays are about philosophers and sociologists, whose ideas determined the formation of sociology as a science. At the end of each chapter, terms and concepts are given, and at the end of the book there are tests to test your mastery of the course. Thanks to the experience of teaching sociology at the University of Krakow (Jagiellonian), the University of California, and a number of other universities in the USA, Europe, Latin America and Australia, the content of the textbook meets the world level, which contributed to its translation into most common languages.

For students of higher educational institutions studying in the specialty and department of “Sociology”. Of interest to scientists and teachers in the field of social sciences and humanities.

After almost 30 years without an original domestic sociology textbook, Poland will finally be able to have a work that is outstanding in all respects, representing a basic academic text that can be used by both university and lyceum students. This work is distinguished by its amazing systematic presentation of the material, elegant, easily accessible language and skill in concisely characterizing the most complex social phenomena

Andrzej Koider, professor at the University of Warsaw

The author is a renowned authority on sociological theory, both classical and modern. And he brilliantly uses his erudition, turning his gaze to theoretical peaks, while they serve him to describe and understand reality. Studying this textbook will allow you to get acquainted with the main social phenomena, with the figures of the largest sociologists, and finally, with the most important discussions among sociologists.

Marek Ziulkowski, Professor at Adam Mickiewicz University

NOT. Pokrovsky. The purpose of sociology
Chapter 1. Sociology and society
		society		sociology
Sociology as a science
Society is a subject of sociology
Multidimensionality of social situations
Personality in society - social context
Sociological imagination and the language of sociology
The most important concepts and terms
HUMAN ACTIVITY
Chapter 2. From behavior to social action
Behavior
Action
Social activities
Social Actions
The most important concepts and terms
Chapter 3. From social action to interaction
Joint action, or social contact
Anatomy of Social Interaction
Four theories of interaction
From simple interactions to networks of interactions
The most important concepts and terms
Chapter 4. From interaction to social relations
Repeated and regular interaction
From regular to regulated interaction
Social relations
Types of social relations
Continuum of manifestations of human activity
The most important concepts and terms
Chapter 5. From social relations to organization
Social environment
Social circle
Status set
Sequence of statuses
Social organization
The most important concepts and terms
Chapter 6. From organization to social structure
Structure as social form
Structural determination
Four Aspects of Structure
Dynamics of structures

The most important concepts and terms
Chapter 7. From mass action to social movements
Mass society
Mass actions
Collective behavior
Collective Actions
Social movements
Dynamics of social movements
The most important concepts and terms
SOCIAL COMMUNITIES
Chapter 8. From many individuals to a social group
Traits that form a group
Types of social communities
Moral connection - content and range of action
Pathology of the moral bond
The phenomenon of simultaneous participation
Organized groups
Types of communities and the dynamics of their crystallization
The most important concepts and terms
Chapter 9. Varieties of social groups
Objective classification criteria
Subjective classification criteria
Synthetic typology of groups
The most important concepts and terms
CULTURE
Chapter 10. Culture as a sociological concept
Diversity of ways of life and "social facts"
Concept of culture
Areas of cultural regulation
"Anatomy" of culture
Cultural universals
From ethnocentrism to “political correctness”
Cultural tradition
Creating a Culture
The most important concepts and terms
Chapter 11. Value-normative system
Norms and values
The power of regulation
Double relativity
Sets of rules: procedures, institutions, roles
Value-normative subsystems: custom, morality and law
Adaptation Integrity conflict with norms: conformity of value-norms deviations of the system	2 9489

	Sociology
The most important concepts and terms
Chapter 12. Social consciousness
Language is a tool of ideas
From individual consciousness to social consciousness
Varieties of social consciousness
Pathologies of social consciousness
The most important concepts and terms
Chapter 13. Culture of trust
Theories and theorists of trust
Trust and distrust: “bet” for the future
Reasonableness of trust or distrust
Structural sources of a culture of trust
Subjective factors of a culture of trust
Functions and dysfunctions of trust and mistrust
Prerequisites for practice
The most important concepts and terms
DIVISION OF SOCIETY
Chapter 14. Social inequality
Human inequality and social inequality
Sources of social inequality
Social stratification
Social strata
Social mobility
Social classes
Other types of dichotomous inequality
The most important concepts and terms
Chapter 15. Functions and genesis of inequality
Ideologies of inequality
Theories of inequality
The most important concepts and terms
Power as a kind of inequality
Types of power
Forms of legitimization of power
Leadership
The most important concepts and terms
OPERATION OF THE SOCIETY
Chapter 17. Socialization and social control
Variability of society
Genesis of the human way of life
Socialization: growing into society

Three perspectives on the internalization of culture
Types of socialization
socialization functions
Weak links in socialization
Limits of Social Control
Practical conclusions
The most important concepts and terms
Chapter 18. The process of institutionalization
Structural determination and morphogenesis
Institutionalization as a type of morphogenesis
Innovation and innovators
Emergence and spread of innovations
Departure from rules and erosion of rules
The most important concepts and terms
SOCIAL CHANGE
Chapter 19. Social change, development and progress
Social change
Social processes
Social development
Social progress
The fate of the idea of ​​progress
Changing the perception of progress: the role of the subject
The most important concepts and terms
Chapter 20. The Trauma of Social Change
From the discourse of progress to the discourse of trauma
Traumatic social changes
Three Levels of Cultural Trauma
Genealogy of cultural trauma
Intermediary factors
Symptoms of injury
Ways to cope with trauma
Overcoming Trauma
The most important concepts and terms
Chapter 21. Time in society
Time as a measure of social life
Time as an aspect of social change
Quantitative and qualitative time
Time in public consciousness and culture
Sociocultural time management
Social functions of time
The most important concepts and terms
Chapter 22. Classical ideas about historical development
Classical evolutionism in sociology
Various theories of evolution
Neo-evolutionism in ethnology and sociology

		Sociology
Neo-Darwinism and Sociobiology
Modernization theories
Theory of post-industrial society
Theory of cyclicity in historiosophy
Sociological theories of cycles
Third Perspective - Marxism
Marxism after Marx
The most important concepts and terms
Chapter 23. Formation of society
Historical sociology
Activity theories
Average level of social reality
The idea of ​​the activity of subjects in the history of thought
History as the implementation and personification of the activities of subjects
The most important concepts and terms
Chapter 24. Social revolution
Revolutions as a sign of the new era
Revolution concept
Progress of the revolution
Models of revolutions
Theories of revolutions
What we don't know about revolutions
The most important concepts and terms
MODERN SOCIETY
Chapter 25. Modernity and postmodernity
The concept of modernity: historical and analytical aspects
Polar models
Modern individuality
Criticism of modernity
What after modernity?
Late modernity
The most important concepts and terms
Chapter 26. Globalization
From isolation to globalization
Harbingers of globalization theory
Globalization of culture
Theories of cultural globalization
Four pictures of globalization
The most important concepts and terms
Tests for understanding and mastering sociological concepts
The key to the correct answers
A hundred books from my shelf
Name index

The purpose of sociology

Sociology as a science, it would seem, does not need to justify its mission. This is a social discipline rooted in the system of sciences, occupying a stable position in the structure of modern societies. It dates back at least one hundred and fifty years

V its formal development, not counting the many centuries preceding the maturation of sociological discourse in the depths of other sciences. And, nevertheless, the question is whether everything is obvious with sociology

V this world is very relevant.

The first years of the 21st century. show with all poignancy that the scientific, rationalistic and objective analysis of society has not yet gained universal application. The world is still not only filled, but also overflowing with various kinds of myths that are opposed to science. And these myths actively influence the consciousness of huge masses of people and their actions. As before, many societies are governed quite voluntaristically, based on the short-term and selfish interests of individual groups and elites, who are unable and unwilling to imagine social processes in all their complexity, as well as in their medium and long term. A non-scientific approach to the management of society is often framed these days by sociological terminology and even applied “research” that hides a not entirely sociological style of thinking and action. In this sense, the world contains not only sociology as such, but also semi-sociology, sub-sociology, para-sociology and simply non-sociology, but calling itself Sociology with a capital “S” and actively insisting on this. The situation is more than confusing, especially for those who are just entering the world of science, not yet having their own established judgment about what sociology is and who sociologists are.

	NOT. Pokrovsky
	Under these conditions, the publication of a book by the most famous Polish
	scientist and social thinker Peter Sztompka “Sociology.
	Analysis of modern society"1 is a significant phenomenon. Pe
	we have a textbook, and by and large, a real desktop
	book on sociology of the 21st century. Against the backdrop of dozens of textbooks, behind
	filling the shelves of sociological sections of bookstores,
	book by Peter Sztompka, a representative of the classical tradition, ha
	characterized by the highest scientific culture. Petr Sztompka
	turns us back to the origins and renews the original discourse,
	concerning the foundations of social knowledge, but knowledge considered
	possible through the prism of modernity.
	It is undeniable that sociology occupies a special place in the context
	modern social science. Combining broad theoretical oh
	wat with maximum proximity to specific applied
	research, it is rightfully considered one of the most humane
	statistically oriented social science disciplines. Names
	but therefore in our time, the era of transformation of social
	knowledge and social structure, not only the academic world, but also
	the widest circles of society associate with the progress of sociology
	hope for the creation of a truly scientific picture of society, allowing
	can become the basis for the development of prognostic concepts
	development in the 21st century.
	Meanwhile, the undeniable relevance of the sociological problem
	tics often gives rise to a kind of consumerism and sufficiency
	but a simplified attitude towards sociology. It is sometimes believed that for
	obtaining an effective result is sufficient only pragmatically
	and extremely indiscriminate use of known techniques, supposedly
	automatically bringing functional results. This is deep
	misconception leads to discrediting sociology as such. No way
	venturing into a detailed discussion of such a socio-scientific phenomenon
	exchange, we only note that it is most often generated by a low level
	him sociological culture, which, naturally, cannot
	disappear overnight as a result of one or another directive,
	and “cultivated” for years through comprehensive scientific education
	scientific and research activities, ultimately leading to environmental
	knowledge by the entire society of extremely complex processes of social
	moral development and self-regulation of social life in its status
	ical (structural) and dynamic parameters.
	Sociological culture implies, among other things,
	go, recognition of the infinite complexity of society at all its levels
	and in all its manifestations and, as a consequence, the impossibility of explaining
	understand and solve social problems in the form of a chess problem -

1 Sztompka R. Socjologia. Analiza speczenstwa. Krakow: Znak, 2002. 654 p.

two-year event or a purely social engineering event. At the same time, the bearers of a high sociological culture (individuals or organizations, as well as entire communities) understand perfectly well that not a single social action fades away without a trace, but, on the contrary, its consequences diverge in concentric circles in all azimuths. Finally, sociological culture also implies a certain distancing of civil society and its structures from the structures of power. Sociologists need freedom of scientific judgment and objectivity in diagnosis. Otherwise, social science may turn into anything but a science associated with the great traditions of the classics and modern theory. As a result, we can say that in addition to purely scientific goals (which is self-evident), sociology is aimed at increasing sociological culture society, stimulating its self-knowledge and self-regulation as a system, and this, not least of all, determines the positive trend in the development of sociology, as well as any other social science.

Given the great variety of modern interpretations of what sociology is, and the often spontaneous assignment of the title “sociologist,” Piotr Sztompka suggests highlighting the concept of sociological imagination as a guiding star. This concept, proposed at one time by C.R. Mills2, remains the divide that separates the sociologist from the non-sociologist and sociology from non-sociology. In one of his fundamental articles3, the Polish scientist identified five main properties of the sociological imagination or sociology as such: (1) to consider all phenomena in society as the result of the activity of social forces, groups, individuals with generalized interests (and not just private momentary ones) desires); (2) understand the hidden structural parameters of all social phenomena; (3) reveal the impact of traditions and the historical past on our modernity; (4) take into account the dynamics and development of the social environment; (5) recognize the enormous diversity and variability of social life. “In other words, the sociological imagination is the ability, arising from the recognition of the diversity and plurality of social institutions, to relate any event in society to the structural, cultural and historical context, as well as to the individual and collective actions of members of society”4.

See Russian translation: Mills C.R. Sociological imagination. M., 2001.

Sztompka P. Theoretical sociology and sociological imagination // Sociological Journal. 2001. No. 1. pp. 148-149.

4 Ibid., p. 149.

	NOT. Pokrovsky
	This is precisely the secret and secret of sociology - the area of
	giving ability in any “text” (in any source of information
	mation) find the structural connection of events, determine their inclusion
	ness in history, moreover, in modern history, to see beyond, Kazakhstan
	it would be possible, by isolated and spontaneous actions of people
	the presence of hidden collectivity. Following Mills, Peter
	Sztompka rightly asserts that the absence of sociological
	imagination cannot be compensated by any other
	achievements, say, a large volume of empirical data obtained
	cultural data, an appeal to power and knowledge of “how it was on
	in fact", the ability to evaluate certain facts, knowing
	forward, “what is what” and “who is who.” It is noteworthy that for
	analyst, based on the immutability of sociological
	image, there are no large or small topics in the study and
	stories. Equally, real sociology allows us to
	It’s hard to see the presence of big trends, but macroanalysis does not
	rationally and harmoniously reduced to the micro level. In this sense
	real sociology cannot be arrogant. On this
	and the book of Peter Sztompka is being built. His gaze covers everything
	staffing or lack thereof.

Along with its clear rationality, the sociological imagination also has considerable hidden potential, based on intuition and a natural predisposition to analytics. Sociology can be studied by many, or even all, who aspire to become full members of civil society. (In this sense, sociology can be the basis of civic self-awareness and inclusion in the institutions of modern society, and P. Sztompka’s book perfectly corresponds to this mission.) However, sociology as a form of necessary popular culture, the “educational educational program” of our days does not negate the fact that that professional sociology can and should be practiced only by those who, not only by education, but also by their natural inclination, have the ability to cultivate and apply the sociological imagination.

And there is nothing in this about the forced and insulting selection of people into those capable and incapable of sociological analytics. The point is only that, as in any other profession, only those who have, among other things, a special internal predisposition for this profession can reach heights. The sociology textbook by Peter Sztompka not only and not so much teaches how to “do” sociology. Most likely, he suggests to readers the best way to approach sociology and its understanding, and at the same time, and not least, helps

It allows us to test ourselves for professional suitability. It is hardly worth thinking seriously about your future in sociology if the textbook leaves you indifferent. And the point is not that it exclusively contains all the truths of this science and claims to be an exhaustive compendium of social knowledge. This cannot happen by definition. Modern sociology is vast. But all the great and small truths of sociology, for one reason or another not discussed in P. Sztompka’s textbook, nevertheless, one way or another, come down to those principles of sociological thinking, sociological imagination and sociological culture, which are discussed in great detail in this book are discussed and clearly demonstrated by the author himself. In short, today we can say that inclusion in modern sociology outside of the proposed book will be very problematic and, at the very least, simply irrational.

The highest level of the book and its significance for the development of sociology and sociological education are directly related to the personality of Piotr Sztompka as a scientist. Piotr Sztompka was born in Warsaw (Poland) in 1944. However, since his student years, his creative life has been invariably connected with Krakow - Jagiellonian University, where from 1975 to the present day he heads the department of theoretical sociology. In this sense, Professor Piotr Sztompka is in the full sense of the word a Polish, Eastern European sociologist. And he is always proud of this deep connection with the Polish and Eastern European context, and he always emphasizes this connection at every opportunity. Meanwhile, in the 70s, Petr Sztompka, as a young Fulbright professor, became fully acquainted with American sociology and still remains its researcher and, so to speak, herald. A special role in the ideological formation of Peter Sztompka was played by the great American sociologist Robert Merton, whose student P. Sztompka can fully consider himself. For many years, P. Sztompka was a visiting professor at the University of California at Los Angeles, where, without leaving his duties at the Jagiellonian University, he taught during the summer semesters. It was here that a narrow circle of his like-minded people was formed, including the world-famous sociologists N. Smelser and J. Alexander - their close, long-term cooperation continues in full to this day.

The creative path of P. Sztompka is marked by a number of theoretical studies that have marked stages in the development of international sociology of our time. This is an intellectual biography of Robert Merton (1986), translated into Russian by the book “Co-

NOT. Pokrovsky

sociology of social change" (1993), a study of the theoretical concept of trust (1999) and, finally, "Cultural trauma and collective identity" (2004), directly addressed to transforming societies, including Eastern Europe5.

Over time, the scientific authority of P. Sztompka became indisputable in Poland, Europe and the USA. Today in the world there are few well-known sociological faculties, universities, and research centers where P. Sztompka would not be an honorary lecturer, a prize winner, or a visiting researcher. In his homeland, he is a full member of the Polish Academy of Sciences and the leader of the Polish sociological school.

P. Sztompka’s outstanding contribution to the development of international sociology was confirmed at the XV World Sociological Congress in Brisbane (Australia) in 2002, which elected the Polish sociologist as president of the International Sociological Association, the largest professional and scientific association of all modern sociologists.

The scientific and life position of Peter Sztompka perfectly demonstrates the nature of modern sociology. Being deeply connected with its historical and national context, it turns into science only when it is organically included in the world context.

The educational book offered to the Russian reader has absorbed all the experience of Peter Sztompka; it has become a concentrated expression of his understanding of sociology, knowledge and vision of the world. In Poland, P. Sztompka’s textbook has become a bestseller in recent years, with constant reprints in Polish and other European languages. Currently, developing the theory of sociological imagination, the Polish scientist has prepared a new book, now about visual sociology. Let's hope that it will soon be available to readers in Russian.

5 Basic book by P. Sztompka: System and Function: Toward a Theory of Society. New York: Academic Press, 1974. 231 p.; Sociological Dilemmas: Toward a Dialectic Paradigm. New York: Academic Press, 1979.361 p.; Robert K. Merton: An Intellectual Profile. London: Macmillan Press, 1986 and New York: St. Martin's Press, 1986.324 p.; Rethinking Progress / Jeffrey Alexander. London and New York: Unwin & Hyman, 1990; Society in Action: The Theory of Social Becoming, Polity Press, Cambridge, and The University of Chicago Press, 1991; Sociology in Europe: In Search of Identity / co-edited, with Birgitta Nedelman. NewYork: De Gruyter Berlin, 1993; The Sociology of Social Change. Oxford: Basil Blackwell, 1993. 348 p. (published also in Russian, Spanish, Portuguese (forthcoming in Japanese); Agency and Structure: Reorienting Sociological Theory (edited). New York: Gordon & Breach, 1994; Trust: A Sociological Theory, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1999 (forthcoming in Chinese); Cultural Trauma and Collective Identity , (with J. Alexander et al.), Berkeley: California University Press, 2004.

Scientific sociology is by its nature pluralistic. It does not recognize any monopolies on truth and the worship of timeless idols. Sociology is not so much a body of knowledge and methods as a process of self-knowledge of society. And in this process, we must constantly update our knowledge and compare it with scientific standards. P. Sztompka’s book can become an excellent tool for solving these problems for every reader.

NOT. Pokrovsky

Gratitude

This book was developed over a number of years on the basis of notes and abstracts of my lectures and reports, primarily at the Jagiellonian University, as well as in the USA, where I visited fifteen times (at Columbia University in New York and at the University of California in Los Angeles). Angeles), and during sporadic work at other universities in Europe, Latin America and Australia. Consequently, my students both in Poland and abroad participated in the creation of this book.

However, in general, it was written during the four spring months of 2001. Such intensity of work was only possible thanks to the fact that I received an invitation to two research institutes (in both cases I was the guest of their rectors), namely the Hungarian Collegium in Buda Pest and The Netherlands Institute for Advances Study (NIAS). Rectors Gabor Klaniczai and Genk Wesseling created truly ideal living and working conditions for me during this period. If there is a special place in heaven or paradise intended for scientists, then it undoubtedly looks exactly like their institutes.

In the complex and labor-intensive task of preparing the volume for publication, Adam Mikhailov and my attentive editor Malgorzata Biernacka deserve my special gratitude.

Sociology and society

Knowledge of society and sociology

They say that sociology is a new science on a very old topic. Or to put it another way: sociology has a short history, but a long past. In fact, as a separate field of scientific knowledge it appeared only in the first half of the 19th century. The name “sociology” was introduced in 1838 by the French philosopher Auguste Comte, who built this verbal construct by combining the Latin socius (society, society) with the Greek logos (wisdom, knowledge). In the middle of the century, the first books whose titles included the term “sociology” were written by the British thinker Herbert Spencer. But the entire 19th century had to pass and pass for sociology to appear in universities as a recognized academic scientific discipline.

Despite the fact that it had its intellectual roots in Europe, it received full institutional recognition primarily in America. In the United States, already in 1892, the first sociological department arose at the University of Chicago (it was headed by Albion V. Small, who was at the same time the founder of the American Journal of Sociology, which remains in charge to this day). the leading periodical in the field of sociology in the USA). In 1909, the American Sociological Association (ASA) was formed, which is still not the largest professional organization of sociologists.

In Europe, the first department of sociology was created in France in 1895 at the University of Bordeaux (it was headed by Emile Durkheim, who in 1898 also began to publish and edit the very influential periodical “Sociological Yearbook” (L "Annee Sociologique)). In In Germany, much later, only in 1919, the first department of sociology at the University of Munich was headed by Max Weber, by that time already a well-known professor of political economy and economic history, who in 1909, together with Ferdinand

The house of Tennys and Georg Simmel was the founder of the first German association of sociologists (“German Sociological Society” - Deutsche soziologische Gemeinschaft). In Great Britain, only after the Second World War did sociology gain recognition and status in the main universities, Oxford and Cambridge, at first it appeared here as social anthropology or social and political philosophy. In Poland, the creator of the first university sociological center was Florian Znaniecki, who founded the department at the University of Poznan in 1920 and was the editor of the first Polish sociological journal Przeglądu Socjologiczny, which is still published today.

The organization and collaboration of sociologists on an international scale began in 1893, when the French scientist René Worms founded the elite, small-numbered International Sociological Institute (Institut International de Sociologie, IIS). However, a mass organization with a worldwide reach arose only in 1949. This is the International Sociological Association (ISA), which represents sociologists in almost a hundred countries and now has over 3 thousand members.

Thus, sociology is a relatively young scientific discipline. This is what I mean when I say that sociology has a short history. However, reflections on the topic of society have accompanied people from the very beginning of their history, their activities undoubtedly go back to ancient times and have an eternal character, for life surrounded by other people, contacts with them, cooperation, competition, struggle form the basis of the existence of the human race. We are creatures of this kind that lead a herd lifestyle, we live in communities, groups - from the family through the clan, tribe, community, a set of neighbors, comrades, employees, co-workers to the people and, finally, the continental or global community, for example , European or global, which today is increasingly indicated due to the expansion of communications, economic, cultural ties, as well as targeted integration policies. All this was noticed by ancient philosophers (for example, Aristotle), who defined man as a “social being” (homo socius or homo politicus).

We are never left alone, from birth to death we are surrounded by others, and we must somehow cope with this, communicate with them, arrange our lives among others. We extract various experiences from such contacts, compare our own experience with the experience of loved ones and acquaintances, generalize it, and derive from it different life strategies that we use in everyday practice. Therefore, every person, in a certain sense, is a sociologist. Just not a sociologist in an academic, scientific sense. This is what I mean when I say that sociology has a long past.

How is this pre-sociological knowledge about society different? This knowledge appears in three forms - everyday experience, artistic impressions and philosophical reflection. Ordinary knowledge is, first of all, a set

observations, quite random and individual. Everyone lives in several different, unique groups, in different conditions, has their own life destiny, successes and defeats, somewhat different from others, and at the same time, everyone has a tendency to generalize this personal experience, considering it as universal and typical . Our perspective, our own point of view, seems to us the only correct one. Therefore, the second feature of everyday knowledge, the so-called wisdom of life, is fragmentation, fragmentation. Even when this knowledge is formulated in human sayings, everyday proverbs or the most widespread legends, myths, stories, it does not create a system. The most that can be done is to systematize this everyday knowledge in the form of a dictionary of proverbs, arranged in alphabetical order, and each of such proverbs will be related to a subject that has nothing in common with others, neighboring ones, and, in addition, It turns out that sometimes these proverbs are not consistent with each other, but, on the contrary, they assert things that contradict each other. Thirdly, ordinary wisdom often turns out to be a hasty, rash judgment, the authors of which are not too concerned about the serious substantiation of their conclusions, the solid basis of arguments for the truths they proclaim; sometimes they are satisfied with references to isolated facts and even imaginary facts that are fiction, myth or by deception. Finally, fourthly, knowledge based on the so-called common sense often turns out to be categorical; its bearers do not hesitate to make the most decisive assessments, recommendations, and axiological judgments. They easily fall into moralizing and preach their own particular rules and directives.

Art also provides knowledge about society. This is most obvious in literature, especially realistic prose (in fact, aren’t Balzac, Zola, Faulkner, Steinbeck, Grasse, Fuentes, Marquez excellent sociologists? - to name just a few names). We find sociological content in poetry, drama, and journalism. In a special, non-discursive way, observations and intuitions related to the themes of social life are also expressed by painting (Goya, Bosch), even music, for example opera. An inexhaustible treasury of sociological knowledge is the art of cinema, photography, and television reporting.

And this is not surprising. After all, the main subject and leading theme of art is the fate of man, and this fate, as already mentioned, is inextricably linked with society. Thus, through art, an important type of sociological knowledge is carried out. But, of course, this task is implemented as if along the way, when the opportunity arises. After all, the goals and intentions of art are completely different, and the value of art is not measured (at least not mainly or primarily) by its cognitive functions. Therefore, art is not bound by strict rules and standards of compliance with objective truth. In this regard, art is closer to everyday thinking than to scientific sociology.

The third type of pre-sociological knowledge of society is social (or political) philosophy, which is one of the most important

lane from English M., 1996. 416 p.

Source: sociological library www.socioline.ru

Preface to the Russian edition 6

PREFACE 8

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 12

Part I: Concepts and Categories 13

Fundamental Concepts in Change Research 13

Diversity of social processes 22

Evolution of the idea of ​​progress 29

Temporal change in society: social time 45

Modalities of historical tradition 58

Modernity and what follows it 68

Globalization of human society 83

Part II. Three Great Visions of History 93

Classical evolutionism 93

Neo-evolutionism 105

Modernization theories, old and new 117

Theories of historical cycles 129

Sociological theories of cyclical change 135

Historical materialism 140

Part III. Alternative Vision: Making History 160

Against development theory: modern criticism 160

History as a human product: development of the theory of action 168

New historical sociology: concreteness and chance 177

Social formation: the essence of historical changes 187

Part IV. Aspects of social formation 205

Ideas as historical force 205

The emergence of standards: deviations and innovations 217

Great Personalities as Agents of Change 224

Social movements as a factor of social change 234

Revolutions - the peak of social change 256

FOREWORD BY THE SCIENTIFIC EDITOR OF THE RUSSIAN EDITION

First of all, I want to take advantage of the privilege of a scientific editor to introduce the author of this book to the Russian reader.

Piotr Sztompka is one of the undoubtedly outstanding researchers in the field of modern theoretical sociology. He is a professor at the Jagiellonian University in Krakow, head of the section on theoretical sociology. P. Sztompka gave lectures at many leading universities in America and Europe: at the University of California (Berkeley), Harvard, Columbia, Johns Hopkins University, and the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor). Over the years, he worked as a visiting researcher at the scientific centers of Berkeley, Oxford, Harvard, Vienna, Berlin, and finally in Upisala (Sweden), where in 1992, as the author writes, the very idea of ​​the book offered to our reader was born.

The most important works of P. Sztompka (he is the author of 12 monographs and many articles in academic publications) are “Structure and Function” (1974), “The Sociological Dilemma” (1979), “Robert Merton: An Intellectual Profile” (1986), Rethinking Progress (with Geoffrey Alexander, 1990), European Sociology (1993), and the seminal pioneering works Society in Action and Agencies and Structures. The first was published in 1991 by Polity Press (Cambridge), the second - in 1994 after the publication of this book.

P. Sztompka is a member of the European Academy and its Program Committee, a member of the Polish Academy of Sciences, the international Committee for the European Amalfi Prize in Sociology, and a number of other scientific societies and associations. In 1994, he was elected to the Executive Committee of the International Sociological Association from the Council of Research Committees of this Association.

PREFACE

The study of social change is fundamental to sociology. Perhaps all sociology focuses on change. “Change is such an obvious feature of social reality that any scientific social theory, whatever its initial conceptual position, must sooner or later approach this issue.”

And this has been true since the emergence of sociology. Science itself originated in the 19th century. as an attempt to understand the fundamental transition from traditional to modern society, the emergence of an urban, industrial, capitalist way of life. Now, at the end of the 20th century, we are in the process of an equally radical transformation from a triumphant modernity, gradually sweeping the entire globe, to emerging forms of social life that are so vague that they deserve for now only the vague label “postmodernism”. The need to understand ongoing social changes is once again acutely recognized by both ordinary people and sociologists. Already in the 70s it was clear that “the most striking feature of the modern world is its revolutionary forward movement, or social change. Never before has the familiar world changed so quickly for the vast majority of humanity. Everything has changed - art, science, religion, morality, education, politics, economics, family life, even the internal aspects of our lives. Nothing escaped change” (237; 3). These changes become increasingly evident as we approach the end of the 20th century. An astute observer of modern events, Giddens wrote about what is happening now:

“We live today in an era of stunning social change, marked by transformations that are radically different from those of previous periods. The collapse of Soviet-style socialism, the disappearance of the global bipolar distribution of power, the formation of powerful world communication systems, the clear triumph of capitalism throughout the world... And at the same time, global divisions are becoming more decisive, and environmental problems are becoming more and more large-scale. These and other topics face social science” (153; xv).

The purpose of this book is to review the basic tools for intellectual analysis, interpretation and understanding of social

changes, especially at the macrosociological, or historical, level. Such means can be found in three areas: 1) in the sphere of common sense, at the level of which people assimilate general ideas, concepts, ideas about social changes to the extent that they strive to comprehend their own lives; 2) in social and political philosophy, which raises common sense judgments to the level of independent, specialized, rational constructions that produce complex categories, images and doctrines; 3) in the social sciences, namely in history, political economy, social anthropology, sociology, which begin to apply methodological, critical analysis to changing social reality and create more rigorous and empirically based theories. We will consider exclusively scientific approaches to social change, although we will limit ourselves to those that are likely to form the subject of a special sociological discipline called the “sociology of social change.”

For almost two centuries, sociology has developed quite a lot of concepts, models and theories related to social changes, and sociological approaches to the analysis of social changes themselves have undergone changes. What of this rich heritage should be included in the systematization we propose? Is it possible to focus exclusively on the newest and most fashionable trends, leaving all previous ones without attention? Here we must say a resounding “no.” One of the most important sociological principles is the principle of historicism. It says: in order to understand any modern phenomenon, it is necessary to turn to its origins and the processes that gave rise to it. The same can be said about the realm of ideas: it is impossible to understand modern views on social change without knowing from what earlier concepts they follow and what theories they are opposed to. We will follow this principle.

Of course, this position does not mean that our goal is to exercise in constructing a detailed intellectual genealogy, in tracing the connections, collisions and consequences of all the theories of change that have been revealed to the world since the birth of sociology. This is not a project in the history of ideas, but a systematic sociological analysis. The advantages that modern knowledge gives us allow us to choose, leaving out of sight those concepts and even entire “schools” that turned out to be fruitless or led to an intellectual dead end. We will focus only on those that are still alive and have

ut influence. Moreover, we will follow a systematic rather than a chronological approach in our presentation, being more concerned with logic than with exact dates. We will adopt the point of view of the modern observer of social change in his search for a clear picture, regardless of the source, and will strive to make use of the richness and diversity of the sociological heritage.

Since this book is addressed to students (though not only to them), we will try to present the material as clearly as possible, giving due credit to each of the available theories. Of course, we also have our own views: for example, it seems to us that in presenting various theories it is necessary to get rid of mechanistic concepts that declare the inevitability, necessity and irreversibility of social changes, and emphasize the role of human activity, the continuity of events and the openness of the future. The dramaturgy of the book reflects the course of intellectual evolution, which begins with classical theories of development and in which the “theory of social formation” unfolds, which is equally the result of long-standing historical discussions and a modern, more adequate approach to current social changes. During the presentation, we try to be impartial and objective and only in conclusions will we “reveal our cards.” There is no need to obscure the point: this book is a declaration, and its contents are obviously biased. We believe that the author's point of view should not be veiled, but, on the contrary, open to serious and critical discussion.

Much of the book is devoted to the analysis of sociological theories of change, and the argumentation focuses mainly on the level of concepts and views. Specific historical facts are used only as “illustrations” of concepts, models and theories of social change, so the reader can only indirectly learn about modern and traditional societies, get acquainted with facts and data about them. Our task is not to tell what happened or happened, where and how the modern world is moving, but rather to model a mirror in which, moving away a little, you can see yourself more clearly. Or, to put it less imaginatively, we want to develop the patterns of reasoning, the modes of imagination necessary to inform and critically analyze social change.

Is it possible to solve such a problem practically? Is there any benefit from such conceptual and theoretical knowledge that

What do we offer? Here we must turn to another important sociological idea - the principle of reflection, according to which in human society knowledge has direct and immediate practical consequences. What people think about social change is critical to moving them to action. Consequently, these views and concepts most directly influence the direction and prospects of social change. That is why the enrichment of theoretical knowledge about social changes at the same time has great practical importance - for the implementation of the changes themselves. , the more diverse the concepts, models and theories, the deeper and more critical their content, the more conscious human actions are - both individuals and groups, organizations, social movements, governments, etc. The scale and depth of sociological knowledge are an important factor in shaping the fate of society.

The main provisions outlined above, to some extent, dictated the internal structure and logic of presentation of the material in this book. Part 1 is devoted to the most fundamental sociological concepts, regardless of their origin, and presents a standard and now widely used set of generally accepted concepts necessary for the study of changes such as social change itself, social process, development, historical cycle, etc. Some controversial concepts of social progress, social time, historical tradition, modernity and globalization are also considered. Part 11 contains an exposition of the general view of history that has most significantly influenced public and sociological consciousness, providing the basis for alternative conceptions and interpretations of social change by both ordinary people and sociologists. These views are reflected in evolutionism, cycle theory and historical materialism and will be presented in their extreme, orthodox version, as well as in more modern versions. Despite the huge number of critics, these theories have a strong influence on the modern worldview, form the archetypes of everyday consciousness, and receive new life in the formulas of modern sociological discourses*. Taking a longer time perspective,

* Discourse is a widespread concept in the postmodern lexicon, meaning a style of thinking and a method of argumentation. (Ed.)

we can say that sociological theory is shifting from grandiose historical schemes to more specific social changes localized in time and space, which occur under the influence of known factors and are carried out by individuals or groups. This trend is analyzed in Part III, which is devoted to a new theoretical direction opposite to developmentalism (development theory) - a direction that we propose to call “becoming theory” (392). It is based on activity theory and historical sociology. It is assumed that this theory provides a promising alternative approach to social change, creating a more adequate toolkit for explaining changes in modern society. Within this approach, it remains possible to study specific specific mechanisms of change and the role of different types of activities in future changes. Part W examines processes that are already well studied in the sociological literature, with particular attention to the intangibles - ideas and norms as the substances of change, the role of prominent individuals and social movements as agents of change, and the nature of social revolutions as the highest manifestation of change.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The ideas in this book were presented over a number of years in lectures I gave to students at the Jagiellonian University in Krakow and the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA). I learned a lot from them, as I hope they did from me; however, it was only by chance that my lectures were collected in one volume. The history of this book, like history in general, is highly accidental.

I remember a sunny morning at UCLA and lunch with Simon Prosser, editor of Blackwell. It was then, under the charm of Prosser and under the impression of the charming place where our meeting took place, that the plan to write this book was born, a plan obvious and inevitable. Much of the work was carried out in a fruitful scientific environment, notably at the Swedish College for Advanced Study in the Social Sciences (SCASS) in Uppsala in the spring of 1992. I am also grateful to the scientists who worked at the College at that time, its leadership and staff. Special thanks go to my friends Jeff Alexander and Bjorn Wittrock.

A major sociologist, in the recent past president of the International Sociological Association, in his textbook sets out a course in sociology based on the latest theoretical achievements and applied results in the development of problems of this scientific discipline. The modern interpretation of the subject and methods of sociological research, as well as ways of practical use of sociological research data are presented. Various aspects of social life are considered: human activity, social groups and institutions, cultures, stratification, social variability, modern trends in the development of society. The essays are about philosophers and sociologists, whose ideas determined the formation of sociology as a science. At the end of each chapter, terms and concepts are given, and at the end of the book there are tests to test your mastery of the course. Thanks to the experience of teaching sociology at Krakow (Jagiellonian), University of California, and a number of other universities in the USA, Europe, Latin America and Australia...

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A major sociologist, in the recent past president of the International Sociological Association, in his textbook sets out a course in sociology based on the latest theoretical achievements and applied results in the development of problems of this scientific discipline. The modern interpretation of the subject and methods of sociological research, as well as ways of practical use of sociological research data are presented. Various aspects of social life are considered: human activity, social groups and institutions, cultures, stratification, social variability, modern trends in the development of society. The essays are about philosophers and sociologists, whose ideas determined the formation of sociology as a science. At the end of each chapter, terms and concepts are given, and at the end of the book there are tests to test your mastery of the course. Thanks to the experience of teaching sociology at the University of Krakow (Jagiellonian), the University of California, and a number of other universities in the USA, Europe, Latin America and Australia, the content of the textbook is world class, which contributed to its translation into most common languages.
For students of higher educational institutions studying in the specialty and direction "Sociology". Of interest to scientists and teachers in the field of social sciences and humanities.

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