Public Sociology

Syllabus

Public SociologyProf. Dr. Stefan Selke (Summer Semester 2014)[e-mail]

Aim of the courseSince sociology has become seen as a discipline in its own right and, above all, since MaxWeber's dictum of the "freedom from value judgement" (Werturteilsfreiheit) (Weber 1995),both the normative viewpoint, the use and the task of sociology at the interface of theacademic generation of knowledge and the public distribution of knowledge are the subject ofrepeated controversy (cf. Baumann 2001, 2014). The way sociology has progressed hasranged from stoical asceticism, through explicit leanings to reform as far as playfulambivalence in scope with normative assertions in the post-modern. However, the aim ofsociology was, throughout all these phases, to be accepted as an "objective" science, whichshowed up in particular in methodological rigour.

In the "Public sociology" project (Burawoy 2005a/b, 2012, Bude 2005), this implicitnormativism was made explicit in the US. Meantime there is, in Europe too, a hesitantreception of the accompanying theses and the resultant understanding for a public sociology,or a sociology for the public (cf. Treibel/Selke 2012). Also, the first projects and publicationsare successfully implementing the premises of public sociology.This makes the question of a public sociology very topical. The aim of the course is thereforesystematic development of examples, conditions and limitations of this current dialogue aboutpublic sociology with reference to the state of international research. It intends to show theambivalence of its various positions and thereby also to motivate finding one’s own locationin the profession.

Procedure and methodologyThe course is linked to current threads of discussion about public sociology. For a carefulexamination of the issue two system boundaries are considered:1. In the first system boundary between sociology and the media, the course willfollow the thesis of the economy of attention (Franck 1998). We shall consider variousrole models of sociologists in the public media, e.g. the role of the intellectual or theexpert. We shall also inquire into the appropriate place of sociology on the boundaryof enactments and popularisations in the media.2. At the second system boundary between sociology and the public, the course willfollow the thesis of "double hermeneutics" (Giddens), i.e. the double aspect of socialand sociological construction in society. This will search for "best-practice" examples,i.e. successful formats of public sociology.

The seminar is based on the reading of classical and modern texts about Public Sociology(mostly in English, see list). Further recommendations and wishes are welcome. The aim ofthe course is to develop a critical and informed opinion towards Public Sociology and(voluntarily) to set up a public sociology project

Schedule *

The course will have a form of intesive four day period, from 22nd to 25th April 2014. Classes will start each day at 15:30 and last to 19 with 15 min. breaks after every 60 min. (15:30 - 16:30; 16:45 - 17:45; 18:00 - 19:00) Class 1 Introduction: The scope of Public SociologyComing together and getting acquainted - Experiences of students - Origins (WrightMills: Private Troubles, Public Issues) - Conflicts (Weber: ’Objectivity’ in SocialScience) - Problematics, Publicity and the Possibilities of Public SociologyClass 2 - The debate about Public SociologyThe turn towards Public Sociology (Burawoy) - The main assumptions about publicsociology - Critique about the approach - Public Sociology between distance andengagement - Public Sociology as Popularisation?Class 3 - The different forms of using sociologyThe (public) value of Social Science - Using Sociology in different fields (academic,applied, clinical) - Critical Sociology - Forms of engagement of sociologists in thepublic - Role models from the intellectual towards the expert - Experiences of StefanSelke in GermanyClass 4 - Classical Readings of Public SociologyThe lonely crowd (Riesman) - Habits aof the Heart (Bellah et al.) - An AmericanDilemma (Myrdal) and othersClass 5 - Modern Readings of Public SociologyDiagnosis of current societies and certain phenomena - The weight of the world(Bourdieu et al.,) - Tracking the crisis (Garson, Ehrenreich, Sennett)Class 6 - (New) forms of Public SociologyEssays - Reportage - Sociological Photography - Sociological films - Fiction associology - Novels - (Ethno-)Poetry - The narraritive turn in sociologyClass 7 - Doing Public SociologySetting up a public sociology project - Experiences of Stefan Selke in Germany -Brainstorming and developing a concept/an idea for engaging - Summary of the mainresults and findings - Wrap up - Evaluation       Basic literature**Agger, Ben (2007): Public Sociology. From Social facts to Literary Acts. Lanham: Rawman & LIttlefield.Baumann, Zygmunt (2001): Thinking Sociologically. Malden: Blackwell.Baumann, Zygmunt (2014): What Use is Sociology? Conversations with Michael-Hviid Jacobsen and KeithTester. Cambridge: Polity.Bellah, Robert, N.; Madsen, Richard; Sullivan, William M.; Swidler, Ann; Tipton, Steven M. (2008): Habits ofthe Heart. Individualism and Commitment in American Life. Berkely: Univ. of California Press.Brewer, John (2013): The Public Value of Social Sciences. Bloomsbury.Bude, Heinz (2005): »Auf der Suche nach einer öffentlichen Soziologie. Ein Kommentar zu Michael Burawoy«.In: Soziale Welt, 4, S. 375-380 ["Searching for a public sociology. A commentary on Michael Burawoy"].Burawoy, Michael (2005a): »For Public Sociology«. In: American Sociological Review, 4, S. 4-28.Burawoy, Michael (2005b): »The Critical Turn to Public Sociology«. In: Critical Sociology, 31, 33, S. 313-326.Burawoy, Michael (2012): »From Max Weber to Public Sociology«. In: Transnationale Vergesellschaftungen.Hg. v. Hans-Georg Soeffner, Wiesbaden: Springer, S. 741-755.Franck, Georg (1998): Ökonomie der Aufmerksamkeit. Ein Entwurf. München: Carl Hanser Verlag ["Theeconomy of attention. A design."].Garson, Barbara (2013): Down The Up Escalator. How the 99% Live in the Great Recession. New York:Doubleday.Giddens, Anthony (2010): »The Scope of Sociology«. In: Sociology. Introductory Readings. Hg. v. Anthony;Sutton Giddens, Philip W, Cambridge: Polity, S. 9-12.Jenkins, Richard (2010): »What is Sociology For?«. In: Sociology. Introductory Readings. Hg. v. Anthony;Sutton Giddens, Philip W, Cambridge: Polity, S. 13-15.Nielsen, Francois (2004): »The Vacant "We": Remarks on Public Sociology«. In: Social Forces, 82(4), S. 1619-1627.Roger, Strauss (2002): Using Sociology. An Introduction From the Applied and Clinical Perspectives. Lanham:Rowman & Littlefield.Sennett, Richard (2006): The culture of the new capitalism. New Haven: Yale Univ. Press.Streek, Wolfgang (2012): »Die öffentliche Aufgabe der Soziologie«. In: Leviathan. Berliner Journal fürSozialwissenschaften, 1, S. 129-147 ["The public task of sociology"].Tittle, Charles (2004): »The Arrogance of Public Sociology«. In: Social Forces, 82(4), S. 1638-1643.Treibel, Annette, Selke, Stefan (2012): »Soziologie für die Öffentlichkeit - zwei Perspektiven«. In: Soziologie, 4,S. 398-421 ["Sociology for the public - two perspectives"].Weber, Max (1995): Wissenschaft als Beruf. Stuttgart: Reclam ["Science as a vocation"].Weber, Max: The Methodological Foundations of Sociology/’Objectivity’ in Social Science. Download:http://www.marxists.org/reference/subject/philosophy/works/ge/weber.htm#s2Wright-Mills, C. (2010): »Private Troubles, Public Issues«. In: Sociology. Introductory Readings. Hg. v.Anthony; Sutton Giddens, Philip W, Cambridge: Polity, S. 5-8.* subject to change until the start of the semester** all available as pdf or online       3